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LINES ADDRESSED TO DOST MAHOMED 

ON THE BATTLE FIELD OF KANDAHAR, WHEN CON- 
TENDING WITH SHUJAH, 1834. 

Stand ! cried his Mentor, whither wouldst thou flee I 
The ground thou stand'st on 's all the world to thee ; 
Thy throne the saddle, crowned by natal star — 
Thou stand'st a warrior in the midst of war ! 
Here find a throne, or fill a hero's grave, 
Where rest the houseless and the hopeless brave ; 
For God, the Prophet, and thy deeds of fame, 
±\ martyr's paradise, or victor's name. 



A MEMOIR 



OF 



INDIA AND AVGHANISTAUN, 

WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE 

PRESENT EXCITING AND CRITICAL STATE 

AND 

FUTURE PROSPECTS OF THOSE COUNTRIES. 

COMPRISING REMARKS ON THE MASSACRE OF THE BRITISH ARMY IN 

CABUL, BRITISH POLICY IN INDIA, A DETAILED DESCRIPTIVE 

CHARACTER OF DOST MAHOMED AND HIS COURT, ETC. 

Wit^ an ^j)|>en^i): 

ON THE FULFILMENT OP A TEXT OF DANIEL, IN REFERENCE TO THE 

PRESENT PROPHETIC CONDITION OF MAHOMEDAN NATIONS 

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AND THE SPEEDY 

DISSOLUTION OF THE OTTOMAN 

EMPIRE. 



BY J. HARLAN, 

LATE COUNSELLOR OF STATE, AID-DE-CAMP, AND GENERAL OF THE 
STAFF TO DOST MAHOMED, AMEER OF CABUL. 



PHILADELPHIA: 
J. DOBSON, 106 CHESTNUT STREET. 

R. BALDWIN, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON. 
H. BOSSANGE, 11 QUAI VOLTAIRE, PARIS. 

1842. 




Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1842, by Jud^ 
DoBsoN, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States 
in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 



a,\p 



?3 



"^^^v 



C. Sherman, Printer, 19 St. James Street. 



CONTENTS. 



PREFACE. 

Massacre — Whigs — American interest — Tory policy — British 
tenure of India — Successful invasion of Cabul by the British 
— Whig policy opposed by the Tories — Army of the Indus — 
Importance to England of the Cabul conquest — Destitute 
condition of the British army — Signal failure of the expedi- 
tion against Cabul — True policy of England in Cabul — 
Genius of the Avghan institutions — Abuses of the English 
policy in Cabul — English diplomacy at fault — Avghans 
fierce, semi-barbarous, and unconquerable — Intricate topo- 
graphy of Avghanistaun — M'Naghten's false policy — Cru- 
elty of the English — Citizens of Cabul favourable to the 
English — Murder of the Russian ambassador in Persia — 
City of Cabul shelled by an English mortar battery — 
M'Naghten killed — Dismal prospect of the British army — 
Alternative — Indian troops contemptible — Proper military 
movement for the English — Metropolitan importance of 
Cabul — Ability of Cabul to provide for the subsistence of a 
garrison — Treasonable treaty of the English functionaries 
— Origin of the feud betwixt Shah Shujah and Dost Ma- 
homed — Origin of Dost Mahomed's power — Origin of the 



]V CONTENTS. 

war of the British with Dost Mahomed—Policy of Dost 
Mahomed— English diplomacy at fault — Consequences- 
Policy of Shujah — 0;i ^^7 of Russian policy - - 1 

CHAPTER I. 

Reply to Count Bjornstjerna's Work on British India — 

Preliminary remarks — Sources of information on India, 
Persia, and Avghanistaun — Value of the Count's opinions 
illustrated — His misstatements displayed and corrected — 
His false inferences from philology — His assertions false 
and inconsistent with himself — Historical fact misstated — 
Inquiry into the stability of the British tenure of India — 
Power of opinion — Routes into India — Proper route into 
India from the north of Europe — Topography of the routes 
into India — Population of British India — Diplomacy the 
weapon for Russia — Political obstacles to an invasion from 
the North removed — Russian Policy in Persia — Persian 
policy — Uzbeck policy — Russian influence in Central Asia 
— Inducements to invade India — Reflections on the progress 
of civilization — Missionary efforts in India — Traditionary 
prophecies of the Orientals — Eastern Question — American 
missionaries — Moral condition of the Asiatic — Russia pre- 
ferred to England by the nations of India - - - 25 

CHAPTER n. 

Reply to Count Bjornstjerna's India, continued — Misre- 
presentations confuted — of topography — of moral obstacles 
— Avghan policy — Practicability of Avghanistaun for artil- 
lery — Relative powers of the camel, north and south of the 
Caucasus — Consequences of English errors in policy — mili- 
tary insignificance of the Indians generally — Plan of a 
Russian invasion — Character of the British government in 
India — Policy of the English, and of Alexander the Great, 



CONTENTS. V 

contrasted — Plan of Alexander's conquests — His philan- 
thropy — Antiquities still prove the extent of civilization — 
Results of the English conquests — of their abuses — Origin 
of the British power in India — Their artifice and duplicity 
"—Their rule of " divide et impera" — Confirmation of the 
East India Company's power ----- 55 

CHAPTER III. 

Geographical Boundaries of British India — Character of 
the population — of the soldier — Physical powers — Evils of 
Fiscal policy — Mendicity and misery - - - 70 

CHAPTER IV. 

Foreign Relations of British India — River Indus the 
natural, moral, and political frontier of India — Avghanistaun 
not a part of India — Effect of Russian influence - 76 

CHAPTER V. 

Routes into India — Base of action against India — Resources 
of the Uzbeck States — Facilities of water carriage to the 
progress of Russian civilization in Central Asia — Accessi- 
bility of India from the north — Note, Origin of the name 
" Peshour" — Greco-Bactrian dominion in Avghanistaun — of 
Parthian — Note, Cave of Prometheus — Persian dominion 
— Roman antiquities in the Panjab — Scythian dominion in 
Cabul — Toorkey — Princes of Ghoree — Modern Persian in- 
roads — Ahmed Shah — Size of the English dominion — ^Im- 
portance of Bulkh as a military position - - - 80 

CHAPTER VI. 

References from English Authorities on the Foreign 
Relations of British India — Ava— Nepaul — China — In- 



Vi CONTENTS. 

ternal discontent— Nepaul and Kandahar— Cabul— Russia 
—Heraut'h—Ava—Nepaal— Internal discontent— Russia- 
Agitation by the native Indian press — Persia and Russia — 
Domestic politics— Military weakness— Policy of Russia- 
Threatened dangers of the Indo-British Empire from foreign 
causes — Domestic dangers— Fear of Russia— Idem — Mys- 
terious conspiracy in the south — Extract from the debate in 
the House of Commons on the motion for a vote of thanks 
to the army of the Indus— Importance to the English of the 
Cabal conquest 94 

CHAPTER VII. 

Descriptive Character of Dost Mahomed — Birth — Parent- 
age — Profession — Kills his brother's enemy — Military ac- 
complishments — Habits — Early display of diplomatic tact — 
His policy — Rise to political pov^^er — Is a reformed drunkard 
— Literary pursuits — Becomes Ameer of Cabul — Relations 
with the Seiks — War with the Seiks — Retires to Cabul — 
Pursuits — Age — Personal appearance — Personal habits — 
Dress — Address — A politician — His eloquence — Timidity — 
Drunken revels — Anecdote of his rise to power — A reformer 
of morals — Questionable bravery — Despotic — His duplicity 
— Queen-Mother — His obstinacy and corruption — Licen- 
tiousness — Of the haram — His wives and children — His po- 
licy towards the English — His residence — Avghan plainness 
— His attendants and amusements — Routine of business — 
Ameer passionate — Secession of his brother — Military habits 
— Durbar — Ceremonies of Durbar — I>Ieals — Cookery — 
Servants — Fruits — Pastimes and enjoyments — Evenings — 
Nights — Chess — Tastes of the Ameer — Fondness for story- 
telling — Allegory of Avghan avarice and poverty — His plain- 
ness — Military habits — His brother the Nawaub — His hypo- 
crisy — His Veneration — Enthusiasm a religious principle — 
Motives of his political intrigues with foreign states — Seik 



CONTENTS. Vll 

diplomacy — Ameer passionate — Secession of his brother — 
Military habits — Attendants on the march — Daily routine — 
Smoking — Domestic habit — ^Avghan civility — General drink 
of the Avghans — Head of the Mahomedan religion — Ameer's 
religious persuasion — Selfishness the key to his character — 
— His financial abilities — Fiscal economy of the Orientals — 
Origin of the Toorks — Their decline — Commercial commu- 
nity — Ameer's rapacity — His mode of borrowing money — 
Concluding remarks — Note diplomatic - - - 117 

APPENDIX I. 
Illustration of the British Position at Jillalabad. 173 

APPENDIX II. 

Illustration of a Text from Daniel, &c. — Eastern poli- 
tics — England's unchristianlike position — Note, Eastern 
Question — Fulfilment of prophecies — A point of Mahomedan 
faith — Power of the sooltaun — His origin — Origin of his 
power— His policy — Causes of the decline of Mahomedan 
population — Source of revenue — Traditionary prophecies 
current in the East — Allegory of Dijaul — Object of Christ's 
advent — Remaining independent Mahomedan powers of 
Asia — Christ the Soul of God — Volney's opinion of the dis- 
solution of the Turkish empire — Mahomedans zealous for 
the advent of Christ — Christians indifferent — Reproof- 
Origin of the traditionary prophecies — Consequences of the 
fall of Mahomedanism — Conflicting interests of the European 
powers in relation to Turkey — Battle of Armageddon — 
Restoration of the Jewish nation — Universal redemption — 
Michael the Grand Duke of Russia to restore the Jews — 
Warning and conclusion 178 

APPENDIX III; 
English Account of the Massacre - - - - 196 



ERRATA. 

Page 1, line 4th from bottom, for " later" read late." 

" 3, " " for " to whom" read " to those whom." 

" 5, " 15th from top, dele " and." 

"12, " 16th " for "the" read "that." 

"16, " 13th " for " themselves" read " itself." 

" 16, " 9th from bottom, dele " and." 

" 21, " 8th " for " guerilla" read " guerrilla." 

" 25, " 3d from top, for " Bjorstjerna" read "Bjornstjerna." 

" 26, " 12th from bottom, for " Bjorstjerna" read " Bjornstjerna. 

"41, " 8th " for " Krauchee" read " Kranchee." 

" 55, " 11th from top, for " Gujerath" read " Gujerat'h." 

" 84, " 5th " note, for " Peukola" read " Pekhora." 

"85, " 2d " note, read"FinjanofGholebund"is. 

" 89, " 3d from bottom, for " Amir" read " Ameen." 




c 4 Cor//// 



PREFACE. 



The massacre en masse of a British army has awa- 
kened an intense desire for information concerning 
the people and the country which have been the 
cause and scene of that appalHng tragedy, and pro- 
duced in that feeling a result which the profoundest 
interests of philanthropy and politics, of religion 
and government, have heretofore, inauspiciously and 
unsuccessfully, strove in vain to accomplish. 

From day to day our opinion is confirmed, and 
a long train of terrific disasters still mark the 
malignant track of that destructive meteor in the 
political history of England, " A Whig Ministry," 
as the frantic policy of British statesmen of that 
denomination in India astound the world with the 
developements of their awful and bloody sequences 
long subsequent to the origin of their designs. 

Having been frequently interrogated concerning 
the probable consequences of the later movements 
in Avghanistaun, I think I shall not be intrusive by 
publishing, during this moment of general excite- 
ment, the ensuing pages, which were written in 

1 



PREFACE. 



January last, and are excerptions from my notes 
on " The British Empire in India." In thus antici- 
pating myself I am guided by the wish to gratify 
public curiosity, and in the attempt to be exphcit 
and comprehensive I trust my labours may not be 
found deficient in utility. 

With the submissive resignation of a mind pre- 
pared to receive the decrees of incontestable destiny 
I recur to the maxim " The calamities of England 
are blessings to America" — and here let us deplore 
with the sanctity of filial piety the afflictions of our 
race. We breathe the requiem of our affiliated 
attachments, and say with the French, " Le roi est 
mort, vive le roi ;" and as the Te Deum and gloria in 
excelsis mournfully ascend to heaven, let the voice 
float softly over the ashes of ten thousand dead. 

Earl Auckland, Baron of Ghuznee,* and ye, 
innumerable host of subordinate moths whose " fire- 



* Lord Auckland was created an Earl, and General Sir J. 
Keane was made Baron of Ghuznee ; the first for planning the 
policy which, it was said, would confirm the integrity of the 
British Empire, and preserve India to England, by the conquest of 
Avghanistaun ; and the other for the glorious campaign with the 
army of the Indus, that performed feats of valour rivalling the 
victories of Alexander, and exceeding the celebrity of his most 
illustrious adventures. Honours of knighthood, ribands, and 
brevets were showered upon the conquerors of the miserable 
Avghans with the unsparing liberality of royal munificence, 
which the breathless solicitude of imminent hazard wrought into 
existence. 



PREFACE. 



new stamp of honour is scarce yet current," called 
into existence by the extinction of a free and, there- 
fore, not ignoble nation, " will all the multitudinous 
seas" wash out the remembrance of your bloody 
deeds, or would ye, like Pilate, cleanse your hands 
after relinquishing your victims to the mercy of 
infuriated enemies. Englishmen, what says the 
award of conscience ? 

If the destruction of the British army involved no 
other consideration than the dreadful annihilation of 
so many wretched human beings, the soul would 
revolt from the view, and recoil within itself to avoid 
the contemplation of inhuman scenes so abhorrent to 
philanthropy. It is with feelings of profound regret 
that we mourn the departed ; with unaffected sympa- 
thy we commiserate the afflicted and affiliated sur- 
vivors of that fierce retributive visitation of Provi- 
dence upon a sinning and incorrigible host ; and as 
we implore the mercy of an offended Deity for the 
redemption of the doomed^ we draw before our 
yearning faculties the veil of hopeless beneficence, 
trusting for all things in the mercy of heaven. 

We turn now to the world, and with philosophy 
at our right hand, let us look at the balance which 
the inexorable " fiat justitia" has placed in the 
grasp of expediency, and behold the descent of 
power in the scale to whom hereditary right, and 
the force of circumstances, and command of posi- 
tion, all tend to establish and confirm a claim to 
supremacy. On this subject those who read the 



PREFACE. 



following sheets will readily form a just decision. 
Circumstances are displayed as they exist, and the 
power that Russia could exert, and the results, of 
tremendous import to the civilization of the human 
race, that must follow from tlie exercise of that 
power, are plain ; but whether Russia has or will 
participate in the instigation of measures so prolific 
of benefit to man, the will of Providence alone can 
direct. 

The English Tories believe that the Emperor 
Nicholas, Uke themselves, is and ever has been 
averse to the extension of dominion in the far East, 
which the principle of self-defence has heretofore 
forced upon these powers. " Whatever may have 
been the policy of Russian diplomacy," say they, 
'' since the reign of Peter the Great, experience 
proves that the Emperor Nicholas not only avoids 
all cause of jealousy to England, but is even indif- 
ferent to the affairs of Central Asia." 

The British in India are in the midst of danger 
without the interference of Russia. " God is great," 
but I cannot distinctly comprehend how the Eng- 
lish, should they be forcibly dislodged, can either 
relinquish their hold on Avghanistaun with safety to 
their empire in the East, or recover their late posi- 
tion without incurring an expense of treasure and 
waste of blood which even the colossal resources 
of her government could not sustain. Their own 
experience in the American revolutionary war ; 
that of the French in Switzerland ; the Russians in 



PREFACE. 



Circassia, and themselves again in Cabul, proves the 
utter folly of attempting to hold in subjection a hos- 
tile population. To conquer a dominion by control- 
ling the political parties of a state is a feasible policy, 
or to reform by gradual means without annihilating 
the institutions of a subjugated country may be the 
effect of time and perseverance, but to subdue and 
crush the masses of a nation by mihtary force, when 
all are unanimous in the determination to be free, 
is to attempt the imprisonment of a whole people : 
all such projects must be temporary and transient, 
and terminate in a catastrophe that force has ever 
to dread from the vigorous, ardent, concentrated 
vengeance of a nation outraged, oppressed, and in- 
sulted, and desperate with the blind fury of a deter- 
mined and unanimous will. 

Many are surprised at the apparent ease with 
which the English took possession of Cabul. This 
seeming phenomenon may be readily explained. 
The government of Cabul under Dost Mahomed 
was of an oligarchical form ; he ruled as the para- 
mount of many chiefs. When the British invaded 
Cabul, they were nominally led by Shah Shujah Ul 
Moolk, the representative of the ancient regime, who 
was to the Avghans what Louis XVIII. was to the 
French, but more popular than the Bourbon : he 
was surrounded by English officers, and sustained 
by a British army, who preceded all their move- 
ments by the alluring fascination of gold. Awaken- 
ing the cupidity of the Cabul chiefs, they advanced 



PREFACE. 



to take possession, as resistance dissolved before the 
magic charm of Plutus, and each chief was literally 
purchased by coin and profuse promises to abandon 
the interests and fellowship of the ameer, and in- 
duced to embrace the service of the king. Nay, in 
their audacity they offered to purchase Dost Ma- 
homed himself, by tending that prince a bribe to 
relinquish his sovereignty, and enter a prison pre- 
pared for himself and his adherents in the uncon- 
genial climate of Hindostan !* The merits and de- 
merits of the policy which suggested the invasion 
of Cabul, the march of the army, and their general 
mismanagement whilst there, have been much dis- 
cussed. Their policy was opposed by the Duke of 
Wellington and the Tories, but this party, labouring 
under the curse of Whig measures, has been obliged 
to sustain the honour of the country and integrity 
of the empire, to carry out the mistaken and vicious 
views of their predecessors. They believe the mo- 
tives of the Whig ministry were erroneous ; that the 
pretext to remove the pestilence of Russian councils 
and intrigues from the frontier of India was founded 
in error, and that the object of the conquest, to con- 



* The English proposed to the Ameer that he should accept a 
pension of £10,000 per annum, and retire into Hindostan. The 
prince, disdaining the ignominy of self-degradation, preferred exile, 
and he fled to Tartary. Subsequently he fought two unsuccessful 
battles with the English, and ultimately rendered himself a prisoner 
to the enemies of his dynasty. He was sent into India, and, I be- 
lieve, allowed ^£20,000 per annum. 



PREFACE. 



vert the country of an independent nation into a line 
of frontier defence, by occupying their strongholds 
as garrisons, and converting a whole nation into 
mere camp followers, was impossible and unneces- 
sary ; but now that the Indian government has in- 
volved itself in the responsibility of maintaining a 
paramount position in Cabul, to sustain her supre- 
macy in India must continue firm in her designs, or 
relinquish the principle of her political existence in 
Asia. Great was the importance attached to the 
successful result of the invasion of Avghanistaun. 
An army of twenty thousand fighting men, accom- 
panied by sixty thousand camp followers, thirty-five 
thousand camels, besides innumerable pack-horses 
and wheeled carriages for the transport of artillery, 
baggage, and commissariat stores, was concentra- 
ted in Scind, and leaving Sukkur Buckker as their 
base of action, penetrated with great waste of life 
and property, and expense of treasure, through the 
sterile, inhospitable, and desert wastes of Beloochis- 
taun, debouching from the Bolan pass upon the 
plain of Quetta. The country consists of mountains 
divided by small unproductive valleys, with barely 
vegetation sufficient to sustain the pastoral popula- 
tion, which is sparse and savage. The quantity of 
water is only capable of sustaining small bodies of 
men and animals, and the army was necessarily 
divided into details to pass through a country where 
large masses must have perished from thirst. The 
camp followers were in a great measure unpro- 



8 PREFACE. 

tected, and subjected to the depredations of a hos- 
tile population : they were slaughtered in numbers ; 
the baggage of the army was plundered by the pre- 
datory natives ; their cavalry was exhausted from 
famine ; their artillery horses, unfit to drag the guns, 
were led by the men ; and they arrived at Quetta in 
a state of destitution little different from disorganiza- 
tion. Here a council of war was held, and the 
expediency of returning positively debated ! The 
desertion of an Avghan chief* from the interests of 
the Kandhar Sirdars filled those leaders with the 
terror of domestic treason ; panic fears pervaded 
themselves and their adherents, prompting them to 
sudden flight, and they became refugees at the court 
of T'heran. The British army advanced ; Kandhar 
fell ; Ghiznee followed ; and the quiet occupation of 
Cabul ended an uncontested though expensive cam- 
paign, the operations of which originated causes of 
expenditure, against which the Duke of Wellington 
had prophetically forewarned his countrymen. 

The fourth year is passing since the commence- 
ment of these military demonstrations : unheard-of 
obstacles have been subdued by dint of much human 
suffering ; a king has been dethroned, and another 
restored ; a kingdom lost, and won, and lost again. 
The Avghan people have been kept in commotion 
by continual domestic strife and civil wars ; trea- 



* Hadji Khan Kaker, created Nusseer ul Dowlah by the Shah 
— in reward of this treasonable desertion of the Kandhar chiefs. 



PKEFACE. 



sures exhausted ; torrents of blood shed, and the 
whole affair terminated by the naassacre of the in- 
vaders, whose numbers were said to be ten thousand 
souls. Thus the expedition has signally failed, and 
in that failure we behold the retributive justice of an 
avenging Deity ; for those believe not in God who 
perform the deeds which characterize the misrule 
of England in the East ; and they have received the 
punishment of Sennacherib for their infidelity, in the 
necessity of a just and merciful Deity, when English 
arrogance inconsistently proposed to supersede the 
order of Nature or the Divine Will, by enforcing the 
slavery of nations in the East, whilst engaged in the 
abolition of individual negro slavery in the West. 
Thus is England condemned by her own laws; and 
it is written, " out of the words of thy mouth shalt 
thou be judged." 

The government of the Avghans by their own 
institutions would have been an experiment suffi- 
ciently facile, and a conquest, the achievement of 
which might have been effected with the pretext 
and the show of right. But no condition of submis- 
sion short of absolute servility, and the abolition of 
their national identity, could satisfy the English in 
their projected conquest of Avghanistaun. They 
accordingly attacked the system of government, 
which has been the cherished form of society 
amongst the people from the earliest period of their 
political existence. The population is divided into 
numerous tribes independent of each other, every 



10 



PEEFACE. 



one separately governed by a chief selected from 
the oldest family in the community, though not 
always the oldest member of that family: the power 
is held during good behaviour, and in case of a 
vacany by death, an election is made of the heir 
of the late chief, or should he decline, a brother or 
near relation is elevated. The chief is to be viewed 
as an executive officer, and adminsters the laws of 
the tribe, which are the result of usage arising from 
expediency strictly in consonance with the cus- 
toms of the people. He can levy no revenue; there 
are in fact no expenses of government. In a tribe 
each head of a family is a patriarch ruling in the 
undisturbed possession of his domestic hearth, 
bound by the common interest to sustain the peace- 
able and safe enjoyment of life and property of his 
community, and himself as an integral part thereof. 
The attachment of the people is to the community, 
and not to the chief, who is liable to be removed by 
a council of the tribe for any flagrant misconduct. 
The chief represents the tribe in their foreign rela- 
tions, calls out and commands the militia, who main- 
tain themselves, and administers the judicial system 
of his tribe. If the English had conciliated the 
heads of tribes, arranged them round the king, as 
sustainers of the government, which privilege they 
had a right to expect, they would have become 
wilhng hostages for the good conduct of their 
tribes. But the king, "who can do no wrong," 
drove these representatives of the people away 



PREFACE. 11 

from his court, seized and imprisoned many who 
presented themselves for employment and honours, 
telling them plainly his bayonets were preferable 
to their swords; deputed the offices of stale to a 
swarm of hungry expectants, who attended him 
during his thirty years' exile, and filled up the 
appointments of revenue officers and governors of 
districts with household slaves and military re- 
tainers. These proceedings being sustained by the 
English gave rise to the prevalence of profound but 
subdued disgust, which lately displayed its effects 
in the sanguinary ^?zaZe of the invaders. The Eng- 
lish, who know well the value of gold, could have 
controlled the movements and policy of the Avghans 
by fiscal diplomacy, without incurring the odium of 
invading and subjugating an unoffending and dis- 
tant free people, whom to subdue to European 
forms of civilization was impossible. They are but 
the " spirits of the waste" who inhabit the wild and 
sterile deserts of the Caucasian mountains. Their 
indomitable love of independence is characteristic 
and incorrigible. They are now what they ap- 
peared to be under the name of Bactrians in the 
muster-roll of nations as given by Herodotus in the 
expedition of Xerxes into Greece, the fiercest of 
the savage nations of Scythia. Kings have risen 
amongst the Avghans, and conquered India, but in 
retaining their conquests have relinquished their 
native country; they have been transiently subdued. 



12 PREFACE. 

but never enslaved or permanently conquered and 
held in subjugation by a foreign power. The 
Greeks when they ruled Bactria, did so by a race 
of hereditary princes born in the country, who 
ceased to be subject to the Greeks in Europe. The 
experience of history, derived from the period of 
Alexander, from the legends of the Seleucidse or the 
Greco-Bactrian successors to that dynasty, the 
invasion of the Parthian Prince Mithridates, or the 
defeat of Crassus, so similar in many of the incidents 
to the melancholy fate of " the army of the Indus," 
and the contemporaneous operations of Russia 
in the same range, — Cabul being on the eastern 
and Circassia the western extremity, — all go to 
prove the unconquerable nature of these semi-civil- 
ized communities inhabiting the vast range of moun- 
tains ; and Lord Auckland, in place of being made 
an earl and receiving the thanks of Parliament and 
the Queen, should have been impeached, degraded, 
and despoiled of his hereditary honours. 

I have appended a map of Cabul and the vicinity, 
by which the intricate nature of the country may 
be perceived by inspection. Sir William McNagh- 
ten was a self-conceited gentleman, who marched 
into Avghanistaun with the air of Bombastes Fu- 
rioso, advocating to the governor-general a system 
of policy which has wrought the reward that 
cruelty, false faith, and criminal duplicity will ever 
receive. A nation whose principle of existence 



PREFACE. 13 

lies in the disunion and separate interests of its 
constituent tribes, became united by common op- 
pression into one unanimous community, goaded to 
madness by the systematic and consecutive tyranny 
of their invaders. The populace were infuriated 
by a sanguinary and unjustifiable act, and in modern 
warfare, a measure of unheard-of barbarity, on the 
part of McNaghten. English papers of March 5th, 
state, " He requested the king to admit a mortar- 
battery into Balla Hissar, to shell the townT to re- 
venge the murder of Burnes, whose death was per- 
petrated by a body of religious fanatics, and not, 
as might be supposed from the bloody infliction of 
shelling a densely peopled city, by an insurrection 
of the inhabitants en masse. 

The natives of the city of Cabul were the friends 
of the English ; they had luxuriated several years 
on the fatness of English munificence, in the midst 
of an improvident soldiery, — wherefore was de- 
struction rained upon them ? If a public func- 
tionary had fallen in a popular commotion there, 
the recent example of the Emperor Nicholas in the 
case of Greybeadoflf, his ambassador at the court 
of T'heran, who was murdered with all his staff in a 
popular tumult, might have suggested to Sir WiiUam 
the line of expediency; but those who disdain 
heaven, are vainly taught by the experience of 
man ; and quick was the retribution of Providence 
for that black unnecessary deed of blood. When 



14 PREFACE. 

the mortar-battery opened on the city, and the con- 
fiding unoffending inhabitants, who had always been 
taught to repose on English justice, faith, and 
mercy, saw the mangled limbs of their wives, and 
children, and suckling infants, strewed about their 
domestic hearths, with a desperate and simultaneous 
impulse, they rushed on the commissariat godawns,* 
and another moment saw the British army in the 
grasp of an insulted and unrelenting foe. The 
headless trunk of their chief now lay weltering in 
its gory death — for McNaghten was murdered in a 
forced interview with the Avghans, — and they 
looked around in vain for the prospect of retreat. 
Their route for ninety miles lay through a mass of 
mountains, inaccessible at all seasons except by 
narrow defiles, in some places mere ravines or 
chasms in the immense alpine masses, often tower- 
ing two thousand feet above the plain, from whose 
mural sides and elevated heights rocks and stones 
might be securely rolled down on the fugitives. 
I Now all nature reposed in her cold interminable 
^ sheet of snow. The inclemencies of winter, which 
always completely incapacitates the Indian soldier, 
were in their full prevalence in a climate where the 
earth is usually frozen hard as steel nearly four 
months of the year. They gazed upon the vast 
expanse before them ; the mountains around them, 

* Storehouses. 



PREFACE. 15 

and all the country covered with snow, presented 
the dread result of a hopeless retreat ; despair froze 
up the current of the blood as it curdled round the 
fainting heart ; death stared them in the face with 
the option of starvation, of perishing through cold, 
or of dying with arms in their hands. Strange that 
a British army should not have chosen the latter 
alternative ! If there ever was a doubt of the utter 
worthlessness of the Anglo-Indian army, on occa- 
sions of great emergency, and extreme peril, let 
this example suffice to set the question for ever at 
rest ; for the English prints expressly state, as the 
cause of the massacre, that the Indian troops becom- 
ing disorganized, deserted their officers, disbanded 
and dispersed, some to safety and dishonour secured 
by treason, but many to death from the hands of 
an unmerciful enemy, or the still more merciless 
inclemency of climate. When the commissariat 
godawns were seized, the army of fighting men, 
which was just large enough to garrison the citadel 
called Balla Hissar, should have marched into that 
stronghold, which is entirely inaccessible to any 
mode of warfare of which the natives could avail 
themselves. They should have removed the popu- 
lation inhabiting the fortress, and they could have 
protected with their arms the inhabitants of the city, 
as it lies immediately under cover of the Balla 
Hissar, and they could have kept open a communi- 
cation with the country through the citizens. There 



1 6 PREFACE. 

are several small forts and strongholds in various 
parts of the city ; every large house has a strong 
portal and sort of bastion tenable against a siege 
if the assailants should be unprovided with artillery ; 
each resident has a rifle, always ready for use, and 
the city of Cabul has, in fifteen minutes after the 
sounding of an alarm, been known to show upon 
the terraces of the houses, 10,000 armed men, 
fiercely bristUng with the artillery of grim-visaged 
war. The city of Cabul has frequently rebelled 
against the king or its chief, during the civil wars 
of the ancient regime, and without extraneous 
preparation, readily sustained themselves in a state 
of insurrection for thirty or forty days consecu- 
tively. During the winter, the citizens of Cabul 
have always six months' store of flour or wheat 
laid up in granary. The army might have been, by 
proper management, liberally sustained until spring; 
the English could have intrigued with the leaders 
of the opposing hordes, created conflicting interests 
amongst them, and formed a party by conciliation 
and diplomatic efforts, and dissolved a confederacy 
that threatened instant destruction ; but the political 
affairs of the English had again fallen into the 
hands of still less competent agents : a young 
lieutenant of the Bombay Artillery, who is re- 
markable for obstinacy arid stupidity, and an old 
invalid of high character and imbecile mind. All 
these facts may be easily proven, and the hands 



PREFACE. 17 

that signed the treaty by which a British army of 
10,000 men has been betrayed to ignominious death, 
justly deserve the award of treason. >.,^ 

Thirty years have passed since the civil wars of 
Avghanistaun terminated for a brief period in the 
expulsion of the ancient regime. These wars were 
fomented, first by the pretenders to the throne spring- 
ing from the common ancestor, Timur Shah, the 
progenitor and king who preceded the present in- 
cumbent. Shah Shujah. Causes of domestic conflict 
were kept in continual operation by the leaders of 
the Barikzye tribe, whose chief had been decapi- 
tated by order of Shah Zeman, the brother of Shah 
Shujah. The murder was avenged by the son of 
this victim of an evil policy, and this son, the Vizier 
Futty Khan, was the eldest of twenty-one brothers, 
amongst whom the Ex- Ameer Dost Mahomed is 
to be numbered. The worse than savage murder 
of Futty Khan by Kameran Mirza, son of Shah 
Mahmood, a successful opponent and half-brother 
of Zeman, whom he blinded, and Shujah, renewed 
the blood-feud betwixt the Suddoozye, or king's 
tribe, and the Barikzye, or tribe of the Ex-Ameer. 
The latter thoroughly and completely prevailed, 
under the direction of Mahomed Azeem Khan, 
the full brother and successor of Vizier Futty Khan ; 
he was succeeded by his son Hubeeb Ullah Khan, 
who governed an insubordinate multitude, distracted 
with the vices of their princes, until a long night of 

2 



18 PREFACE. 

anarchy was dispelled by the advent of Dost Ma- 
homed, who was called by an almost unanimous 
voice of acclamation to assume the reins of power, 
which the feudal lords of Cabul were ready to strike 
from the rude grasp of a depraved and monstrous 
voluptuary, a young man, his nephew, eighteen years 
of age, the slave of every evil passion. Dost Ma- 
homed attained the sovereignty of Cabul in 1824, 
and was hailed by the feudal chiefs as head of an 
ohgarchy. This form of government continued, 
through the troubled movements of a restless people, 
with whom the prospect of peace is ever the pretext 
of tumult and strife, until 1839. This community 
of scorpions was ruled by Dost Mahomed with 
results that confirmed his character for diplomatic 
tact. With the means of attaining those results the 
politician has naught to do. There can be no doubt 
Christian morals and philanthropy would have been 
horrified at the violence, cruelty, and savage bar- 
barity of a prince, whose title to supreme power 
was sanctioned by his abilities in the administration 
of a remedy or prophylactic measure against all the 
moral and political depravity of a community upon 
which Rhadamanthus would have gazed with fatu- 
ous and timorous dread ! The strongest proof of 
Dost Mahomed's firmness, decision, pertinacity, and 
finesse, is to be seen in the fact of his having instantly 
relinquished the pursuits of an habitual drunkard on 
attaining sovereign power, together with the simul- 



PREFACE. 19 

taneous and sincere repetition of his example by all 
his companions in Ucenliousness and arms. 

In the winter of 1837-38, an individual arrived 
in Cabul from the camp of Mahomed Shah, who 
was engaged in the siege of Heraut'h. He repre- 
sented himself as a Russian courier, who came, it 
is said, with a complimentary letter from the Em- 
peror of Russia, addressed to Dost Mahomed. The 
chiefs of Kandhar (the Ameer's brothers), had 
already acceded to a Persian alliance, and the 
Ameer, apprehensive of being superseded in the 
patronage of the Persian Shah or the Russians, 
commenced hedging between the three agents then 
at Cabul, representing Persia, Russia, and England. 
To the English he held out two stipulations, which 
he made the sine qua non of a treaty offensive and 
defensive, and the estabhshment of a garrison of 
British troops in the citadel of Cabul. viz. : a pay- 
ment of twenty lacs of rupees, (two hundred thou- 
sand pounds,) and that Runjeet'h Singh should be 
obliged to relinquish his pretensions to the natural 
territories of Avghanistaun within or west of the 
Indus. The utter and deplorable incapacity of the 
English agent originated a line of bewildering policy, 
commenced in the feebleness of a narrow mind, and 
finished with a deluge of misery and blood. Such 
indeed was the expedition to Moscow, of which this 
is a repetition on a small scale ; though the conse- 
quences may be more important to the social con- 



20 PREFACE. 

dition of man than the great political convulsion 
alluded to. 

"^^ The tenure of British India, and consequently the 
integrity of the British empire, is at this moment 
sustained by a single hair, and that so tensely drawn 
that the slighest adverse movement will certainly 
snap asunder the retaining power. The thousand 
native princes of India are regarding with intense 
anxiety and ardent hopes the movements of the 
British army before the Khyber pass, and the fate 
of General Sale at Djillalabad. Every able-bodied 
man, whose numbers are not less than five millions^ 
covetous and exasperated enemies, is standing with 
" the foot in the stirrup and hand on the spear," 
gloating on the hope of plunder which the traditions 
of old age have placed in fascinating visions before 
them. The sentinels are in the watch-towers and 
their runners are in the way, — and the earliest 
promulgation of the last reverses of the British in 
Avghanistaun will signalize the destruction of every 
Englishman throughout the whole of India. If the 
Avghans slaughter the remnant of British troops 
under General Sale at Djillalabad, and defeat the 
British army in its projected attempt to force the 
Khyber defile, the British power in India expires 
instantly, without a doubt, as it will without a strug- 
gle — except the death-throes of their officers, as the 
native army strangle them in their beds. The In- 
dians can more readily perform than the Avghans 



PREFACE. 21 

could conceive. Simultaneous movement, whether 
the effect of design or fortuitous occurrence, or the 
consequence of circumstance, will eventuate in the 
same conclusion. So far in this massacre of the 
British army nothing has been effected to disturb the 
Anglo-Indian government. But the clouds that have 
gathered in the Indian Caucasus, and scathed v^^ith 
their lightning the British army, have not ceased to 
thunder on the invading host. Should they rain de- 
struction on the beleaguered forces at Djillalabad, an 
electric shock will rapidly pass through the chain of 
connexion that unites the Indo-British empire through- 
out, and important consequences must ensue beyond 
the control of England, which will seriously derange 
the supremacy of that race in India. The Avghans 
can submit to be defeated daily during the next six 
months ; news will reach us of the repeated decisive 
victories of the British forces; but we, who are 
acquainted with the value of an English bulletin, 
know that the repetition of a decisive battle implies 
the continual necessity for defensive operations — 
and the Avghans will conduct a guerilla warfare, 
which exhausts by the pertinacity of incessant as- 
sault. The English admit that their position cannot 
be maintained against artillery. Should Djillalabad 
be a defensible position against native aggression, 
which certainly is not the case, even in English 
hands, where the disparity of the antagonists is 
measured by thousands against hundreds in favour 



22 PREFACE. 

of the assailants, a deficiency of provisions will 
oblige these brave men to yield, not to their ene- 
mies, but to the dismal alternative of — death. Sir 
Robert Sale and the English troops under his com- 
mand, when no other choice remains but the stipu- 
lation of death or dishonour will unhesitatingly 
prefer the grave of honour in place of honour's 
grave. I incHne to the belief that circumstances 
will again fight for the Avghans and destroy the 
remnant at Djillalabad, in which case the garrisons 
of Ghuznee and Kandhar must follow in the same 
train of events that involves the safety of their com- 
rades. 

The English will endeavour to avail themselves 
of Shujah ul Moolk's influence to regain their posi- 
tion. They say, with singular naivete, " the king 
refused to accompany us in our retreat, and was 
immediately able to surround himself with three 
thousand followers in the Balla Hissar." The king 
never desired any greater favour of the English 
than a loan of money, with which he proposed to 
restore himself in his own way, by sustaining a 
party until he could ascend the throne. He is now 
upon the throne surrounded by a strong party, and 
his first wish is to rid himself of English tutelage. 
He will probably consummate his purpose ; and the 
English, when they trust to Shujah, repose upon a 
broken reed, which will transpierce the hand of 
confiding faith. 



PREFACE. 23 

Whilst I write, (May 7th,) the last accounts from 
England say, " On the authority of a Berlin cor- 
respondent, upon whose information, derived through 
letters from Moscow, great reliance is placed, the 
Times states, that the Shah of Persia has marched 
against Herat'h at the head of 60,000 men, and 
that Russia has furnished a subsidy of two million 
rubles in order to enable the Shah to make the 
movement." If this statement is founded on fact, 
the fatal spell begins to work. 

Note. — In referring to English policy, I trust my English 
friends will distinctly draw the line of separation betwixt the 
system that elicits restrictions, and the country at large, and allow 
me the privilege of admiring those whose friendship I claim, with- 
out ranking me amongst the enemies of their household gods 
whom we mutually adore. 



INDIA AND AVGHANISTAUN. 



CHAPTER I. 

EEPLY TO COUNT BJOESTJEENa's WORK ON BRITISH 

INDIA. 

I AM not acquainted with any historical subject 
amongst modern incidents which has been more 
elaborately or more ably treated by writers of emi- 
nent pretensions than the British Empire in India, 
an important phenomenon in the political history of 
the human race, and justly entitled to a careful 
investigation. The patient and persevering applica- 
tion necessary to eliminate from an extensive and 
promiscuous mass the atoms of a fair synopsis, de- 
serves our warm approbation ; and the individual 
who devotes himself to the task with the motive of 
communicating information of a nature so full of 
interest as the general advancement of knowledge 
involved and displayed in the events of history, is 
entitled to, and shall receive, our grateful acknow- 
ledgements for the admirable design ; but the errors 
of a work, whether accidental or premeditated, can- 
not be redeemed by the merit of the subject; and we 



26 INDIA AND 

are particular in referring to the blunders of the 
treatise under review, because an invincible name 
does more to substantiate error than a controverted 
attempt to confirm a false position; the effort pro- 
ducing a conflict which must result in the predomi- 
nance of truth ; whilst the silent and unimpeached 
influence of a name imperceptibly impresses its 
force upon a plastic receptacle, and insensibly cor- 
roborates the grossest mistakes. 

On this subject the most efficient information can 
be derived in a form sufficiently condensed for the 
general reader, from Harpers' Family Library, en- 
titled *' History of British India," in three vols. 
16mo. If to this publication is added " History of 
Persia, from the earliest ages to the present time," 
by James B. Frazer, Esq., complete in one vol., 
"with a map and engravings ; and the well arranged 
and minutely true account of Avghanistaun, by the 
Hon. Mount Stuart Elphinstone, a synopsis of 
Indian and Persian history becomes available, in- 
cluding all that a philosophical inquirer could 
desire. Amongst the collaborators upon British 
India one of the latest candidates for public appro- 
bation is " Lieut. General Count de Bjorstjerna," 
&c. &c., (of Stockholm,) formerly chief of the staff, 
and at present Envoy Extraordinary and Minister 
Plenipotentiary at the Court of Great Britain. The 
Count is an admirer of the English government, and 
his work, for that essential cause, is, in the opinion 
of our great Colossus of the world, "judicious and 
luminous, and will afford more complete informa- 
tion on the British Empire in the East than any 
work of the same extent in our own language." 
(Preface of the English translator.) The Count 
has laboriously referred to all accredited authorities 



AVGHANISTAUN. 27 

on India, and enumerates more than one hundred 
published sources, besides a host of unpublished 
manuscripts, many of them voluminous deposits in 
the archives of the East India Company, from 
which his knowledge has been culled, and his opi- 
nions made up or confirmed. He presents himself 
to the public as an individual perfectly acquainted 
with his subject, and consequently soliciting and 
deserving the attention of his auditors, and doubt- 
less, in default of more correct knowledge, he may 
bear away the compliment of merit which his pre- 
tensions in no kind justify us in awarding. 

The Count is more than unfortunate in almost 
every opinion he has expressed. He is indeed un- 
wise, for he compromises by his misstatements, in 
the fullest latitude, the gratuitous approbation of his 
English friends. The value of the Count's opinions 
and accuracy may be readily estimated at the 
onset by recurring to his puerile inferences drawn 
from facts which, in his imagination, are worthy 
of remark. He directs our attention to a won- 
derful coincidence, a discovery unthought of here- 
tofore, and refers to the occurrence with a matter- 
of-course sort of self-complacency of an edifying 
caste. He says, p. 10 of " The British Empire in 
India" — "During his residence in India (1324-53) 
Batuta gained the favour of Mahomet, the Em- 
peror of Delhi, who sent him on an embassy to the 
Emperor of China. Mahomet was descended from 
the Sooltauns of Khorassaun, who had conquered 
India. The whole dynasty of these sooltauns had 
the surname of Oddin, a circumstance which I 
consider it right to notice here." By referring to 
the History of India mentioned above, page 184, 
we see, " In the year 1316 the crown (of Delhi) was 



28 



INDIA AND 



placed on the head of Mubarrick I., one of the 
Emperor's sons. He was murdered after a reign 
of three years, and "amid the confusion which fol- 
lowed (p. 185), Tuglick, a slave, belonging to the 
warlike border tribe of the Jits, ascended the 
throne." Tuglick ims succeeded by his son Jonah, 
who assumed the title of Mahomet'lII. ; but instead 
of following his father's example, his crimes sur- 
passed those of his most guilty predecessors, and 
made him, during a reign of twenty-seven years, 
the execration of the East. " Mahomet, it appears 
(p. 186), had at length resolved to adopt a milder 
system, but death interrupted him before he could 
realize his intentions, and delivered India from the 
dreadful scourge of his government in the year 
1351." 

This Mahomet was the son of a slave, and not, as 
the Count observes, " descended from the Sooltauns 
of Khorassaun," &c. " The whole dynasty of these 
sooltauns (those of Khorassaun, who had con- 
quered India,) had the surname of Oddin." Merely 
alluding to the culpable and inexpressive looseness 
of the Count's style, we must meet this assertion 
with a direct denial. The first person who reigned 
as a local Mahomedan prince in India, was Kuttub 
ul Deen. He was of the humblest birth, having 
been purchased as a slave at Nishapoor in Toorkis^ 
taun. Mahmood of Choree established Kuttub as 
his lieutenant in the city of Delhi, on the subversion 
of the Hindoo dynasty. He was the first of a race 
of foreign rulers called the Patau dynasty, but his 
power did not descend in his own family. ' He was 
succeeded by Altumish, who, like his master, had 
been a slave. All the kings of what is called " the 
Patan dynasty," i. e., those who followed Kuttub ul 



AVGHANISTAUN. 29 

Deen, to the period of the Moghul dynasty, established 
by Baber in 1525, are mentioned in history by their 
proper appellatives, without a surname. It is pro- 
bable some who were elevated from a low condition, 
may have had the surname of Ul Deen, according 
to the Mahomedan usage. This cognomen would 
have corresponded with the denomination of those 
who were called after some attribute of the faith, 
whilst there are many names which would not 
admit of the association. Such are Mahomed, Kei 
Kobad, Kera, (unless this last should be intended 
for Khire,) GhufFoor, Omar, Mubarrick, Tuglick, 
Mahomed, et id genus omne. Admitting, for the 
Count's gratification, that they all took the surname 
which distinguished Kuttub, by what method of 
pronunciation, or by what value of letters, can Ul 
Deen be called Oddin. Ul is the Arabic article the, 
Deen means religion in the same language, and the 
word Kuttub signifies pole or axis (of the earth) — 
Kuttub ul Deen implies, "axis of the faith," i. e.,the 
faith of Mahomed. The name is derived from the 
Mahomedan era, and cannot be in any way coinci- 
dent with the Scandinavian name Oddin. Fancy 
the surprise of the Hyperborean worthy, could he 
break the cerements of his tomb at this moment, and 
find himself saluted by one antiquarian as a Hindoo 
devotee, whilst another familiarly addressed him as 
a Mahomedan priest! The Count's great disco- 
very, of which he had so much to make in reserve, 
a circumstance which he sagely suggests, *' I con- 
sider right to mention here," goes for naught. 

The Count draws other inferences from what he 
considers coincidences of language, in each of which 
he still more strongly proves his ignorance of 
philology and of history, and deficiency in tact, in 



30 INDIA AND 

endeavouring to trace resemblances in sound with- 
out regard to orthography. In these results we 
can only lament the incapabihty of his views, and 
his frivolous pretensions, e. g. : fogdar, governor 
of a province, and fogdar, a word of the same sig- 
nification in Sweden. Fogdar is pronounced in 
the Persian, fodjedar. It comes from fodje {army), 
and the imperative dar of the Persian infinitive 
dashten (to have), literally, the possessor of an 
army ; colloquially, governor of a province. Again, 
Vedas, name of the sacred books of the Indians, is 
supposed to resemble Edda, by which name the 
sacred writings of the Scandinavians are known ; 
also between Buddha and Oddin. Vedas is pro- 
nounced Bade, which is not a close resemblance to 
Edda, and Buddha becomes colloquially But'h, in 
the oriental dialects of Arabia, Persia, and Hin- 
dost'han, which in nowise bears any resemblance 
to Oddin, notwithstanding the Count's remarks, p. 
63 — " of these we may mention the resemblance 
betw^een the names of Buddha and Oddin (espe- 
cially in the oriental pronunciation)." 

The foregoing are some of the " positive facts," 
which, according to the English translator, add an 
important zest to the Count's work ; they show 
"the relation between the religious belief of the 
Hindoos and the w^orship of Oddin," (p. 10, Pref.) 
To show how little the Count has been understood 
by his English friends, if indeed he understands 
himself, let us refer to the remarks which he offers 
upon this subject, p. 65 et seq. : " Where do we find in 
the mythology of the Goths any traces of that love 
of allegory which so remarkably distinguishes the 
Brahminic doctrine?" &c. "No, the mythology 
brought by Sigge Fridulfson to Switheod had not 



AVGHANISTAUN. 31 

its origin in India." " The doctrines of Brahma 
and Buddha are the products of India, originated 
on the banks of the Ganges, and never reached the 
shores of the Bahic." To make the worse appear 
the better cause, the Count even places his honour 
in an ambiguous and unenviable position. To what 
motive can we ascribe the relation of the following 
anecdote, intended as an illustration of the bravery 
of the Indian army 1 It is one of those unfortunate 
instances which prove more than the author in- 
tended or desired. The story is a prominent ex- 
ception to the ordinary reputation of the Indian 
army, and shows that a circumscribed operation of 
an estimable quality is the result of a general defi- 
ciency. The conquest recorded is utterly false. 
Page 155: " As one among thousands of examples 
of bravery which distinguishes the soldier in the 
Anglo-Hindoo army, we may cite the following : 
In the year 1804, General Lake besieged the for- 
tress of Bhurtpore, situated in the central part of 
India, which was considered impregnable. Holkar, 
after having lost two battles against General Lake, 
had thrown himself, with the remains of his Mah- 
ratta army, into the above-named fortress, and 
determined to defend it to the last extremity. Four 
attempts to carry it by storm had been repulsed, 
the two last executed by the 75th regiment of the 
English line, which had (like Ney) the surname of 
les braves des braves. A fifth attack was to be at- 
tempted. The European troops recoiled, when the 
12th regiment of sepoys offered to undertake it, and 
planted their victorious colours on the high walls of 
Bhurtpore." Page 113, he says, on a previous occa- 
sion " Holkar was obliged to throw himself, with the 



32 INDIA AND 

rest of his army, into the strong fortress of Bhurtpore, 
which was besieged and stormed in vain four times, 
but on the fifth attempt it was taken by General 
Lake!" As national glory is a subject on which 
the English are peculiarly sensitive, we select the 
relation of the Bhurtpore affaiu^ and the singular 
bravery recorded by the Count from their own 
annals : " Hitherto in general the reduction even of 
the strongest forts had proceeded in a sure and 
regular course ; the trenches were opened, a storm- 
ing party was selected, who forced their way in 
with greater or smaller loss, and were masters of 
the place. But the defenders of Bhurtpore not only 
fought with the most daring valour, but called into 
action means of defence and annoyance which the 
English had never elsewhere encountered, and for 
which they were wholly unprepared. They ren- 
dered the breach impracticable by raising behind it 
stockades and other bulwarks ; they made the ditch 
unfordable by damming up the waters; and, during 
the assault, logs of wood, pots filled with combusti- 
bles, and burning cotton-bales steeped in oil were 
thrown down upon the soldiers. In short, the British 
army were repulsed in four successive attempts, sus- 
taining in killed and wounded a loss of 3203, greater 
than had occurred in any two battles during this 
obstinately disputed campaign. Even their glory 
was somewhat tarnished. The seventy-sixth, (not 
the seventy-fifth,) hitherto the bravest of the brave, 
{brave des braves) and the foremost in every tri- 
umph, along with the seventy-fifth, (which here 
merely figures as an ordinary corps, and not the 
brave des braves^ refused on one occasion to follow 
their officers after the twelfth Bengal sepoys had 
planted the colours on the top of the rampart. Being 



AVGHANISTAUN. S3 

bitterly reproached for having thus caused the failure 
of the assault, they were overpowered with shame, 
and entreated to be led to a last attack, where they 
displayed desperate but useless valour ! 

" It was now necessary to intermit the operations 
of the siege in oraer to repair the losses sustained, 
and to bring forward more adequate means of attack. 
The rajah, however, apprehensive of the final issue, 
and seeing that his entire downfall must follow the 
loss of his capital, made very advantageous over- 
tures, including the payment of twenty lacs of 
rupees (2,000,000),* as the price of peace; while on 
the other hand the situation of affairs was such as 
induced the English general, on the 10th of April, 
to embrace the conditions, and even to promise, in 
case of a steady adherence to treaty, the restoration 
of the fortress of Deeg," (which had been taken a few 
days before.) Harper's Family Library, History of 
India, vol. ii. p. 169. I am enabled to add, that 
British policy induced the government to adhere to 
the treaty made by Lake in 1804 ; and that to 1825, 
w^hen Bhurtpore was taken by Lord Combermere, 
the fortress had been a thorn in the apple of their 
eye. The natives for twenty years had boasted that 
the chief tower of their fort was built of the dead 
bones of their Feringeef enemies, cemented with the 
mortar of mud and English blood ; that they had 
conquered the conquerors of India. Their pride and 
arrogance were inconceivably inflated ; repeated 
insults had been inflicted on the English and their 
adherents ; an EngHshman could not pass through 
the district of Bhurtpore without great personal risk, 
and British officers on hunting excursions were 

* £200,000. t Frank, or European. 

3 



34 INDIA AND 

beaten and driven from the vicinity by the jealous 
natives with disgraceful impunity. The impression 
of its impregnability added audacity to insult, and 
to remove that conviction from the native mind, 
and ensure the moral subjugation of India, the con- 
quest of Bhurtpore became absolutely necessary, 
and this result v^^as accomplished by Lord Com- 
bermere, under the administration of Earl Amherst, 
in 1825. 

After these preliminary strictures on the Count's 
" positive facts," I shall proceed to consider the 17th 
chapter of his book, entitled, "What prospect of 
stabihty has the British power in India?" The 
investigation of the British tenure of India is a 
"delicate affair to the nervous excitability of the 
Enghsh upon this vital question. Involving as it 
does reasons forcibly bearing upon the integrity of 
the British empire, our great Colossus condescends 
to be grateful for a favourable opinion expressed by 
a foreigner, though in this instance no neutral. The 
Count cursorily, and with a tender admission of 
immunity, runs over the abuses of the English sys- 
tem, and after an unsuccessful attempt to exonerate 
his heroes, he philosophically concludes — " These 
answers to the reproaches which have been made 
to the British system of government and commerce 
in India, however plausible they may be, cannot 
wholly remove the grievances and their causes of 
fermentation in India, and therefore the British 
power in that country cannot be considered as 
properly consolidated," p. 202. He adds immedi- 
ately, p. 203, " the question now is, whether the 
elements of stability overbalance the materials for 
fermentation existing in India. We consider the 
former to be the case, provided," &c. &c. Here 
the proviso includes principles of paramount con- 



AVGHANISTAUN. 35 

sideration, and which would effect a great moral 
revolution, and thorough change, in the political and 
religious institutions of the Indian population, no 
less, 1st, than the just and wise government of the 
country; 2dly, the admission of the Indian people to 
a share in the government of the country. 

The second stipulation is utterly opposed to the 
genius of the people, familiar as they are with the 
absolute form of government, which has existed 
amongst them for ages. The principle is incom- 
prehensible to a community whose records, from the 
earliest period, enduring through thousands of years, 
show the devoted veneration of its masses for the 
patriarchal system. " Inspired," as the Count ob- 
serves, p. 203, " with stoical and slavish indifference, 
which promotes obedience, and prevents the break- 
ing out of insurrections against the existing power, 
and the belief in the transmigration of souls causes 
life to be considered as so insignificant a part of 
their eternal being, that it is not worth while to 
trouble themselves much about it." Much less, then, 
would they be likely to value highly a greater share 
in the government of theirxountry. Again, p. 203 : 
" It is often said, and I believe with truth, that the 
power of England over India is a power depending 
on opinion." Page 206 : " In considering the sta- 
bility of the government, or the result of a great 
military enterprise against India, we shall confine 
ourselves to the military (viz.: the strategetical, 
topographical, and statistical) part of the question, 
leaving the 'political as much as possible untouched." 
This is performing the play of Hamlet without the 
character of Hamlet. If the government is stabili- 
tated on opinion or moral force, moral influence 
will be the proper weapon to oppose the government 
of opinion, on the accepted principle in war of man 



36 INDIA AND 

to maris and horse to horse opposed. But as the 
three points upon which the discussion of this mo- 
mentous question is proposed cannot have the 
shghtest bearing on the success of " a great miHtary 
enterprise against India," I reserve my strictures on 
the Count's somnambulistic garrulity and general 
views, and on another occasion, by a simple state- 
ment of facts, I shall present the 'political part of the 
question, which the count, with much naivete, pro- 
fesses to have a " wish to avoid." 

On the subject of accessible roads into India, the 
Count is equally infeUcitous. Having disposed of 
all the dangers from foreign invasion by shutting up 
the routes to India, he directs our attention to the 
passage across the Hindoo Kush as the road by 
which a Russian army might most easily penetrate 
to India. I have no doubt an offensive measure 
against India might be effected by this route ; it is 
one of the accessible points, but not the most easy. 
Where the Count supposes the country to be covered 
by eternal snow, that is, the district between the 
Hindoo Kush route and Heraut, " over which there 
are no roads and where it is impossible for an army 
to penetrate," there passes a route via Bameean, 
diverging at Rooey, and debouching upon the plain 
of the Oxus, via Heibuck on the east, and Derrah 
i EsofT on the west, the first egressing by Tash- 
khoorghan (Khoolum), and the last between the cities 
of Bulkh and Mozar, which are respectively situated 
about six or seven coss* north from the mountain 
range. This is the great caravan route, and has been 
used from the earliest periods. It was by this imprac- 
ticable route that Alexander marched from Bulkh, 

* A coss is one mile and three-fourths. 



AVGHANISTAUN. 37 

(the ancient Bactra,)* and whose footsteps were re- 
traced by successive invaders of India ; of the Par- 
thians under Mithridates, the Persians of Darius 
Hystaspes, and of Artaxerxes; of the Samanian, 
Toork, Moghul, and Persian dynasties. The Count 
commences at the beginning with a Russian inva- 
sion, and this is his first principle : " A Russian army 
intended for an expedition against India, starting 
from the eastern side of the Caspian Sea, and follow- 
ing the line of the Oxus, must be collected in Oren- 
burgh," p. 220. This is true, but the result of the 
Khiva expedition proves that an attempt to pene- 
trate through Khwarizm never should have been 
undertaken, and that a Russian army attempting to 
reach India to he successful should not start from 
Orenburgh. He is right in making Bulkh the work- 
ing point, and in cantoning the Russian troops there. 
If he selects the route that has been travelled by all 
the great invaders, depredators, and conquerors who 
have infested India, he will get there with no less 
facility than a Russian army could march from Til- 
sit to Paris, over a macadamized road, and through 
a country yielding supplies in profusion. 

I shall not follow the Count every step from Bulkh 
to Attock. The country is filled up with great moun- 
tain ranges, the routes are through narrow defiles, 
ravines, and upland valleys, and over passes rising 
sometimes to the gelid altitudes of perennial snow. 
They are difficult from the sterility of the soil, 
sparsely cultivated, the predatory habits of the people, 
whose pursuits are pastoral, their numbers few, and 
dispersed over an extensive surface. The Indian 
Caucasus, or that part which lies between Bulkh 
and Cabul, is three hundred miles broad, and the 

* The city is called Bactra, and the province Bactria, by Q. 
Curtius. 



38 INDIA AND 

highest pass is 12,500 feet above the sea. The roads 
are free from snow from May to October inclusive, 
except that by the Hindoo Kush, which is open from 
July to September inclusive. The route by Ba- 
meean is not subject to avalanches near the high- 
way, as the Count infers, neither has a caravan 
ever been lost from any other cause than the pre- 
datory practices of the natives. The natural ob- 
stacles are by no means insuperable, for I have 
crossed the Paropamisus by this route commanding 
a division of the Cabul army, accompanied with a 
train of artillery, consisting of four six-pounders and 
two battering guns. They were dragged across 
the mountains on their carriages, and the whole 
distance was performed without the necessity of 
striking a pioneering instrument into the ground ! 
I avoid following the Count from Bulkh to Attock, 
because a Russian army would never find the route 
contested ; and physical difficulties, should they not 
be insurmountable obstacles, may be subdued by 
perseverance and enterprise. Should a Russian 
army ever take up a position at Bulkh, there will 
be an end to the empire of opinion in India ; and 
there is not a stane or a stick in all the country 
which would not become a deadly weapon in the 
hands of outraged millions, to drive out the pitiful 
handful of European oppressors, amounting to some 
thirty thousand Englishmen, in a community which 
by the Counfs showing is 200,000,000 (two hundred 
million) souls.* It is frivolous to dwell on the geo- 

* The estimated population of India being represented by 
Bjornstjerna at 200,000,000 is an error of 60,000,000 ; it probably 
proceeds from his ignorance of the geographical divisions of the 
Mogul Empire, within the boundaries of which, in its utmost ex- 
tent, the amount of 200,000,000 has been stated. We can only 
account for this vast discrepancy by supposing that some dis- 
tricts have been twice computed, and thus swelled the gross 



AVGHANISTAUN. 39 

graphical difficulties and topographical impediments 
when they are not insurmountable obstacles in them- 

estimate beyond the truth. The following statement is derived 
from parliamentary reports, which must be admitted final and 
unerring in a matter of statistics, when unequivocally represented 
in that light, viz., in the year 1832 : 

Square miles. Inhabitants. 

Presidency of Bengal .... 220,312 . . . 69,710,071 

Doubtful districts . . . . 85,700 

Madras 141, 923 J . . . 13,508,525 

Bombay 59,438| . . . 6,251,546 

Doubtful districts 5,550 

512,9231 89,470,152 

The population of the doubtful districts, being situated on the 
Nurbudda in Berar and Concan, is probably not large ; so that the 
whole will not much exceed 90,000,000. The territory of the 
allied or protected, i. e., the subject states, is estimated at 614,610 
square miles. Their population, however, is not supposed nearly 
equal to that of the territories under the immediate government 
of the Company. Mr. Hamilton, in the second edition of his 
Gazetteer, estimates it as follow, viz. : 

The Nizam 10,000,000 

The Nagpore Rajah 3,000,000 

TheKingofOude 3,000,000 

TheGuickwar 2,000,000 

The Sattarah Rajah 1,500,000 

The Mysore Rajah 3,000,000 

Travancore and Cochin 1,000,000 

Kotah Boondee of B'hopaul 1,500,000 

Rajpootanah and other petty states 5,000 000 

40,000,000 
The same gentleman makes the following conjecture as to the 
states that were independent in 1832, viz. : 

Scindea 4,000,000 

Lahore, Rajah Runjith Singh 3,000,000 

Sinde 1,000,000 

Nepaul 2,000,000 

Cashmere and other districts belonging to the King 

ofCabul 1,000,000 

11,000,000 
This would give a population of 140,000,000 souls for the whole 
of India. — History of Jndia^ vol. ii. p. 291. 



40 INDIA AND 

selves, but derive their inriportance from political 
causes. They may serve for positions of defence to 
a hostile population against an invading force, but 
become the strongholds of friendly power when an 
advancing army can claim or command the sym- 
pathies of the people through whose territories they 
are to pass. Diplomacy is the weapon which 
Russia has to wield against the Indo-British em- 
pire, and by the process of diplomacy I shall show 
by and by that the British power in India — that 
empire of opinion which has so astonished the 
world by its unique existence, — may be made to 
disappear, and " like the baseless fabric of a vision, 
leave not a wreck behind." Page 223 : "The road 
from Peshour to Atlock^ goes through a narrow pass, 
formed by the Cabul river on one side and a high 
range of mountains on the other." It is difficult to 
imagine how the topography of a district should be 
so absolutely misrepresented as the Count's asser- 
tion here displays the face of the country from Pe- 
shour to Attock. The plain of Peshour is bounded 
on the north by the Cabul river, and on the south by 
a semicircular range of mountains in the district of 
Khuttuck. This alpine range commences at the 
Attock, and sweeps towards the S. and S. E. until 
they plunge into the Afreedee mountains of the Soo- 
lemanee range, behind or west of Peshour. The 
breadth of the plain included between the Cabul 
river and the southern boundary at its widest part, 

* Elphinstone says, "On the march of the 18th, which reached 
to the Indus, the hills came close to the river of Cabul, so that we 
were obliged to cross thera. They belong to the same range which 
we passed near Cohaut," &c. «fec. They belong to the Khuttuck 
range, i. e., they are a lateral spur of hills springing from those 
mountains. 



AVGHANISTAUN. 41 

is thirty-five miles across, and nowhere do these 
mountains approach the Cabul river so as to form a 
defile. From Peshour to Attock the distance is an 
open plain, cut up into ravines as you approach the 
Attock; and still nearer this river there is a difficult 
pass over a spur of the Khuttuck range near the Cabul 
river, but it does not command the access to the At- 
tock, except by this one road. The river Indus is 
accessible by several proximate routes. " There are 
political hindrances, which are of more consequence 
than the former" (geographical and physical). On 
this, to the Count, forbidden subject, viz., the political 
reasons aflfecting the stability of the Indian Empire 
(see p. 206), there seems to be no objection to avail 
himself if the argument makes against the enemies 
of England, which the Count supposes is the case 
here. But, as usual, he is again wrong when he 
ventures on an opinion, no less than he is false in 
the selection of his facts. He says, p. 223. et seq., 
"A military expedition from Russia to India pre- 
supposes that all the countries between them should 
first be subdued." Well, they have been subdued, 
but not by Russia. England herself has removed 
that obstacle to the advance of a Russian army by 
extending her frontier into Avghanistaun, and draw- 
ing a line of defence from the Indian Ocean at Ku- 
rauchee to Heraut, and thence through the Indian 
Caucasus east to Attock, so that there is no longer 
any neutral ground remaining between these two 
antagonist powers. 

And is the Count so utterly ignorant of Russian 
influence in Persia as not to know that the interests 
of these two governments are intimately blended 
together, and identified with each other ? That the 



42 INDIA AND 

Shah of Persia is maintained upon his throne by the 
Russian power, in defiance of innumerable preten- 
ders, claimants whose pretensions are by no means 
insignificant; and should their rights be left to the 
arbitrament of civil war, independent of foreign in- 
fluence, would expeditiously dismember the Persian 
kingdom ? That the monarch of Persia is swayed 
by the policy of Russia, and could at any moment 
conduct a Russian army from its point of concen- 
tration at Asterabad via Meshud and Meimunnah 
to Bulkh ? It would not be more difficult to procure 
by treaty with the paramount lord of the Uzbeck 
states, the Ameer of Bocharah, a free passage and 
feudal service through his dominions, if necessary, 
to join issue with the proximate and mutual enemy 
at Cabul ; the more especially as that enemy is a 
Christian power whose late conquests in Avghanis- 
taun have brought to the threshold of Tatary the 
enterprising and heretofore invincible conquerors 
of the Moghul Empire. So long as England re- 
mained behind the Sutledge, and her views of ag- 
grandizement were not disclosed by the late mighty 
stride into Central Asia, which brought within the 
circumference of her power the four independent 
principalities of Beloochistaun, Avghanistaun, Pan- 
jab, and Scind ; the Uzbecks of Central Asia* might 
have justified a jealousy of the Russians, and also 
of the English, thinking themselves capable of main- 
taining their neutrahty whilst the competitors for 

* The Uzbecks of Central Asia, who constitute the only remain- 
ing independent Mahomedan communities, are : Province of Bulkh, 
Kundooz, Bocharah, Kokand, and Khiva the capital of Orgung-e, 
or Khwarizm. These countries are bounded on the north by Oren- 
burgh, east by Yarkand, west by the Caspian Sea, and south by 
the chain of the Indian Caucasus, 



AVGHANISTAUN. 43 

territory in Asia were equidistant, but the unex- 
pected advent of a British army, the sudden con- 
quest of Avghanistaun, and dreaded proximity of 
the English in the permanent occupation of Cabul, 
impresses a sense of terror and profound awe upon 
the only remaining independent Mahomedan com- 
munities of Asia, and drives those governments lying 
between Cabul and Orenburgh to solicit the ap- 
proach of Russia as the sole antagonist capable of 
withstanding the tide of British conquests, which 
threatened, by the subjugation of Avghanistaun, to 
involve within the folds of her power the province 
of Bulkh, the principahty of Kundooz, the Khanauts 
of Bocharah and Kokand, and the province of 
Khwarizm, (or Orgunge, of which Khiva is the 
capital.) These states are connected with the Rus- 
sian empire, geographically, commercially, and by 
political identity, so that their interests on one hand, 
and their necessities and sympathies on the other, 
bind them to Russia in a manner inimical and hos- 
tile to the British government. Russia has thoroughly 
and firmly established a respect for her policy in 
Persia and the Tatar nations of Central Asia, in- 
cluding the Uzbe'is^ks of Toorkistaun, but not by con- 
quest. Treaties offensive and defensive, and covet- 
ed guarantees of political supremacy to reigning 
powers, have been the means of subjecting expectant 
princes to the expanding policy of Russia, whilst the 
sword and bayonet have aggrandized by permanent 
occupation their less fastidious antagonists. 

The Russians are viewed by the Mahomedans of 
Asia as a power whose civilization flows through the 
mild and fertilizing streams of commercial enter- 
prise; whilst the English are viewed as the avari- 
cious and bloody votaries of devastating invasions 



44 INDIA AND 

who recklessly sacrifice all that oppose their own 
love of independence as a bar to their ambitions pro- 
jects. The Russians, far from being obliged to con- 
quer every petty state between Orenburgh and At- 
tock, would, upon the mere suggestion of an Indian 
invasion, have the hordes of Central Asia clustered 
under her patronage, nations of feudatories, propel- 
ling in her train their armed hosts, dense clouds of 
cavalry thundering at her heels over the waste and 
unprotected plains of "the Indian paradise, where the 
stones are gold and jewels, and the dust of the earth 
ambergris and musk." The prospect of plunder to 
the feudal masses of India and Central Asia, the 
chances of aggrandizement held out to native princes 
from the breaking up of an immense empire, the spoil 
of cities and of usurers, whose coffers are annually 
replenished with six-tenths the gross revenue of 
India,* were strong inducements, if incitement were 
necessary, to the hungry maw of native cupidity, re- 
strained in tiresome monotony and endurance of a 
grinding and exclusive system of European rights, 
engrafted by the English upon the free, the reckless, 
the untrammelled, though absolute legitimacy, of the 
feudal order of society as it exists in Asia. Civi- 
lized man is the creature of habit ; the semi-barba- 
rian is more the child of nature : both are modified 
by education. The education and moral regimen of 
Asia is purely oriental, whilst that of Europe is no 
less local and adapted to the demands of European 
wants. The West and the East are diametrical 
antipodes, each possessing principles, systems, and 
morals sui generis and respectively characteristic of 

* The gross revenue of British India is £21,000,000 sterling 
annually. 



AVGHANISTAUN. 45 

each. No amalgamation has been effected. As 
they were during the Crusades they still remain. 
There is no sympathy between Hindoo, Mahome- 
dan, and Christian communities; all are at variance, 
antagonist, hostile, and unrelenting enemies. Masses 
of population thus disposed will not be refined by 
promiscuous intercourse. Each one confident in his 
own philanthropy would confer the beneficence of 
his pecuHar institutions on the other, and so long as 
the struggle of their respective systems is confined 
to moral influence, 'tis easy to foresee the inutility 
of the result. Christianity is truth, and truth, how- 
ever sustained, is justified by the means. The sword 
may establish the truth ; the pretext and the imposi- 
tions of vice it needs not. These are dimming clouds 
that obscure the soft rays of mild religion, and pre- 
sent her to the world like the blessed sun shorn of his 
beams, a sanguinary emblem of threatening futurity. 
When the Sun of Christ rose upon the throne of Con- 
stantino, the sword of state cut off the Pagan gods 
of infidel Rome. Masses of population, constituting 
millions of souls, with identical prejudices, feelings, 
and passions, are operated upon slowly by the imper- 
ceptible influence of mind, as it becomes developed 
by the stimulating necessities of observing man. 
Experience is the great, the practical teacher of 
mankind, and the founder of progressive civiliza- 
tion. Education but serves to elucidate the me- 
dium, and render experience available. The moral 
instruction of Asia originates in experience, and 
expands over the surface of society as it is solicited 
by necessity. Our book-learning of the West, 
which is the drapery of our civilization, and 
springs from a previous acquisition of taste for 
the beaux arts, is unknown and unappreciated by 



46 INDIA AND 

the Asiatics, rudely occupied as they are in hourly, 
in painful industry, in momentary and anxious 
solicitude for their daily rations ; the ease, the lei- 
sure, and the luxury of wealth they know not : these 
are the privileges and acquirements of the divine 
and absolute few whose artificial powers of govern- 
ment enable them to subjugate the minds of men ! 
Nothing has been done by missionary efforts or 
government institutions towards implanting the love 
of knowledge or knowledge of learning among the 
masses of Asia. The tastes of the Orientals and their 
necessities are native to themselves and their soil, 
and different from European ideas ; and all the pre- 
tended and ostentatious efforts of public institutions, 
the munificence of private enterprise, the vain show 
of government designs, politically insincere, and 
the austere devotion of holy missionaries, are local 
and circumscribed, confined to occasional and soli- 
tary cases, or utterly insignificant results ; such as 
attend the benevolent and pious complacency of 
European Roman Catholics, who despatch the self- 
denying disciples of their faith commissioned to im- 
plant their creed amongst the schismatic millions of 
America. Except in the chief cities of India, and 
those more immediately under European control, 
such as Calcutta, Benares and Delhi, Madras and 
Bombay, and the military cantonments of the Eng- 
lish, the native community knows nothing of Euro- 
pean institutions. The masses of Asia, stupified by 
ignorance, apathetic from climate and physical im- 
becility, are at the bottom of the social order. To 
move them by education a lever would be required 
which twenty millions of teachers could not do 
more than render effectual for instant and general 
utility. " Of the one thousand millions of inhabi- 



AVGHANISTAUN. 47 

tants (says the Count) upon the globe's surface, we 
have three hundred and eighty millions of Budhists, 
two hundred millions of Hindoos, one hundred and 
forty millions of Mahomedans," besides millions of 
Jews, Guebres, and infidels amongst nominal Chris- 
tians, all inhabiting Asia — a magnificent and un- 
bounded field for missionary efforts, at which hope 
would sicken and the heart fail, were we not 
-assured that "the Lord shall pour out his spirit upon 
all flesh, and every living thing shall be taught to 
know God." To that miracle we should trust for the 
consecration of our confidence in heaven, whilst 
we bless and admire the universal and devoted en- 
thusiasm of those self-denying disciples of Chris- 
tianity who plunge into the fathomless sea of bar- 
barism in search of an oasis of Divine love, where 
the httle grain of faith may be sown for the salva- 
tion of future generations, — or boldly stalk through 
the fire of probation, unscathed by the seven times 
heated furnace of infidelity, as they strive against 
the ignorance and apathy of man that will not be 
blessed. 

It has been observed by historical authorities, 
" The results produced by missions under the dif- 
ferent societies in various parts of India, is ex- 
tremely similar. The natives have every where 
become secure from the apprehension of any violent 
attempt to overturn their religious belief and obser- 
vances. This confidence, instead of being shaken, 
seems confirmed by the presence and activity of the 
missionaries; when they see the government at the 
same time maintaining the strictest neutrality. They 
have even overcome all fear arising from the inter- 
course of foreigners with themselves or their fami- 
lies. They are fond of meeting and entering into 



48 INDIA AND 

argument with them, which fact imph'es contempt 
of the missionaries' abiUties ; they send their chil- 
dren to their schools from motives of worldly con- 
sideration, that they may become quahfied as 
subordinate clerks in the commercial establishments 
and government offices, and even allow them to be 
catechized and instructed in the doctrines of Chris- 
tianity; though there is a conservative society of 
the Hindoos in Calcutta, which has a newspaper 
published under its patronage, who excommunicate 
from their community every one who is known to 
countenance innovations upon their ancient esta- 
blished systems of religion and education, or the 
ordinary habits and customs ; yet with this, the ex- 
amples of conversion are so extremely few, that, in 
anatmial sense, they may be considered as nothing. 
Omitting all consideration of the manner in which 
the Hindoo religion is interwoven with the habits of 
life, with the splendour of its festivals, and the zeal of 
its votaries, the single institution of Caste opposes a 
most formidable obstacle, though one which is sensi- 
bly diminishing through the continued communication 
of the English, and particularly of the missionaries ; 
(this remark is at variance with the above mentioned 
conclusion, that all previous efforts go for nothing.) 
The circumstance too, that every particular of their 
creed and worship is in voluminous writings, all 
believed to be of Divine origin, renders it almost 
impossible to make any impression. However 
unable they may be to defend any of their dogmas, 
the simple remark, at the close of the conference, 
that * it is in the Shastras or Vedas,' banishes 
every impression of doubt; they imagine that they 
can with perfect safety amuse themselves with dispu- 
tation, and send their children to the schools with a 



AVGHANISTAUN. 49 

view to their improvement or worldly advantage ; 
nor do they scruple to appear in the character of 
what is called inquirers, and amuse their instructors 
with deceptive hopes of their embracing Chris- 
tianity."* 

The time was when twelve poor fishermen, desti- 
tute of moral influence or political power, were 
deemed by the Founder of our religion, a sufficient 
complement to preach the gospel to all mankind. 
One of the ablest and most eloquent writers, but 
the insidious advocate of infidelity, has laboured 
with sophistical arguments of well-drawn inference 
to prove that Christianity owed its progress to 
natural, and not to miraculous causes. Small and 
apparently insignificant in the commencement were 
the efforts which have issued in the mighty results 
of Christian conversion in the Roman world ; and 
if natural causes, arising from so simple and unpre- 
tending an origin, were sufficient to supplant idolatry 
and establish upon the altars of "the unknown God" 
a communion of churches, comprising at this day 
200,000,000 worshippers, is there not greatly more 
reason to indulge the hope of regeneration for Asia, 
although strong in her bulwarks of superstition, and 
apparently invincible in the possession of institutions 
venerable from their antiquity, and firm in their 
connexion with the prejudices of the people whom 
they concern ? Previous to the conversion of Con- 



* The Societies in Great Britain for the Propagation of the 
Gospel in Foreign Parts, are that of the Baptist persuasion, which 
commenced its eiforts in 1792 ; the London Missionary Society, 
founded on a great scale, in 1795 ; the Church Missionary 
Society, instituted in 1800, which began its operations in India in 
1812;' and the Scottish Missionary Society, recently established 
at Bombay. 

4 



50 INDIA AND 

stantine, the fathers of the church did little more 
than fertilize by their zeal the field of their labours. 
The natural effect of new religions upon antecedent 
systems of worship, when powerless and unsus- 
tained by political impulse, and after the bigotry of 
persecution has become exhausted, is to create a feel- 
ing of indifference where oppression once prevailed; 
carelessness begets impartiality; from long threat- 
ening, unattended by apprehended consequences, the 
mind relapses into apathy, and the watchfulness of 
jealousy is eluded. The institutions of a community 
are never more liable to subversion than when the 
prospect of innovation is regarded with familiarity; 
the attempts of the charmer are crowned with 
success when the object of his desires listens to his 
voice ; and the very confidence with which the 
Hindoos are now inspired on the subject of conver- 
sion, shows they have been brought seriously to 
contemplate the possibility of change. The mis- 
sionaries are probably in the way of commencing 
in Asia the epoch alluded to in the Apocalypse, 
chap. xiv. 6., " And I saw another angel fly in the 
midst of heaven, (z. e., a space beyond the Roman 
world,) having the everlasting gospel to preach unto 
them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, 
and kindred, and tongue, and people." The mis- 
sionaries perform their duty in 'preaching the gospel, 
and the convert owes his regeneration to the spirit 
of God. Coming events cast their shadows before, 
and like causes produce similar effects. The inci- 
dent succeeding John's vision is to be a great 
political revolution ; an event forming so important 
an era that it alone is pre-eminently entrusted to 
the promulgation of an angel, verse 8th : " And 
there followed another angel, saying, Babylon- is 



AVGHANISTAUN. 51 

fallen, is fallen, that great city," &c. The predic- 
tion indicates the overthrow of infidelity, prefigured 
by " Babylon," by the destruction of civic institu- 
tions ; and without any other miracle than a Chris- 
tian emperor's ascendant, we may see the altars 
of Paganism cast down, the prejudices of super- 
stition rooted up, the bigotry and zeal of miscreant 
votaries swept away by the arm of political power, 
the edifices of idolatry reconstructed for Christian 
uses ; and when the Crescent shall have been sup- 
planted by the Cross, the " angel rising in the 
east,"* — whose commission is to stay judgment until 
the reorganization of the Jewish nation or twelve 
tribes shall have been accomplished, — finishing his 
charge, leaves the world free to the tramp of Rus- 
sian hosts, w^e may behold established the cause of 
Christ in the East, and Nicholas become to our 
modern age the champion of principles, in advo- 
cating which the first Christian emperor immor- 
talized the name of Consiantine. Throughout all 
Asia, in every community and nation, Mahomedan 
or Pagan, there exist traditionary prophecies that 
a people whose significant characteristics designate 
the European race, is predestined to conquer their 
possessions, to subjugate their power, and establish 
a new order of government and religion ; and the 
votary of Bramah, the disciples of Mahomed, the 
followers of Buddha, or the scholars of Fo and 

* The Eastern questions in the politics of these days, that is, 
the diplomatic relations of Europe with the East, as evidenced 
in the conspicuous position of the five great powers of Europe in 
reference to Turkey,'' Syria, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, Bocharah, 
Avghanistaun, India, and China, in all which countries, England 
and Russia (the two ruling powers in the world) have especial 
political agents, actively employed in countervailing each other's 
influence, and establishing their respective interests. 



52 INDIA AND 

Confucius, silently behold in solemn reverence the 
gradual approach of a great moral revolution, 
which the contemplative mind of their philosophy 
views with the unimpassioned and submissive 
resignation of fatalism. The science of astrology, 
so vaguely prophetic in its general sense in re- 
ference to the futurity of these nations, with won- 
derful congruity and unanimity of design con- 
spicuously and precisely accords " the doom of 
unavoided destiny" a period not far removed into 
the uncertain shade of approaching time — implies 
the proximity of an event of which existing cir- 
cumstances also denote the near completion. 

The American missionaries are coequal in ac^ 
tivity, in abihty and disposition of talent with their 
European coadjutors, and w^hilst their pursuits are 
honoured and their motives revered by all interested 
in the evangelization of infidel or heathen commu- 
nities, their singleness of design, confined alone to this 
imposing object, without in any way compromising 
their religious character with secular views, has 
frequently received the kind countenance and se- 
cured the gratuitous praises of officers high in the 
government services ; their commendations attest 
the qualifications, the morality and the zealous de- 
votion of our countrymen in the missionary cause. 
The American Board of Foreign Missions has 
established stations in numerous positions of North- 
ern India, and their missionaries have proved 
themselves exemplary and honoured agents in a 
righteous cause. They have originated schools for 
the instruction of the natives in Christian literature. 
By the acquisition of the English language, which 
is taught through the medium of moral and reli- 
gious books, the pupils are unconsciously led to 
embrace enlightened views of our civilization and 



AVGHANISTAUN. 53 

peculiar institutions. The soil is fertilized, the seed 
is cast, and we trust in the mercy of heaven for 
the beneficent results. The American Board of 
Foreign Missions has established a typographical 
and lithographic press at Loodianah, conducted 
by their own agent and devoted to the publication 
of works useful in the dissemination of pious know- 
ledge. Many excellent translations of tracts and 
parts of Scripture, selected by the judgment of men 
well acquainted with the moral wants of the people 
subject to their influence, have already emanated 
from this source. By the existence of this press 
upon the Seik frontier, a desire to examine the 
sources of European knowledge was generated in 
the mind of Runjeet'h Singh. A commission was 
appointed by that prince to investigate the facilities 
for getting up a printing press at his capital of 
Lahore. But these unexpanded hopes of progres- 
sive improvement in the Panjab have been blasted 
by the death of Runjeet'h, the removal of his 
dynasty, and consequent anarchy of the Panjab 
government. 

The feudatory of Asia is still the child of nature, 
who disdains the restraints of civilization. With his 
horse in gay trappings of silver and gold, with his 
trusty spear in his hand, a sabre by his side and 
shield thrown over his back, he loves to prowl 
" en cavalier''^ upon his native deserts of plain 
and mountain, in pursuit of the chase or con- 
flict of battle ; and he covets the excitement, re- 
gardless whether the game be man or beast. A 
sharp sword and a bold heart supplant the laws of 
hereditary descent, and the physical powers of 
barbarous man supersede the quirks and quiddities 
of monotonous laws. The attempt of aspiring 



54 INDIA AND 

genius or audacious ambition gains by the sabre's 
sweep and soul-propelling spur, a local habitation 
in a kingdom and a name amongst the crowned 
subdeities of the diademed earth. In British India, 
the fascinating train of military glory, which is the 
soul-sustaining spiriiuel of feudal life, has been cut 
off by the matter-of-fact drill master. Under English 
domination we have his stiff encumbered gait, in 
place of the reckless impetuosity of the predatory 
hero. The cane of the martinet displaces the war- 
rior's spear, and the formal close-set regimentals un- 
couthly usurp the place of the graceful flowing 
robes of oriental voluptuousness. 

By the conflicting interests of Russia and Eng- 
land in Central Asia, the masses of India have 
been awakened to the antagonizing principles 
which divide the European nations. They are fa- 
miliar with the struggle of democratic licentious- 
ness against exclusive legitimacy ; of divine right 
and representative privilege ; of absolutism, and the 
rights of man. To them the English are the advo- 
cates of political infidelity, whilst Russia is the 
patron of conservative principles, the head of the 
feudal system, the sympathizing sustainer of sym- 
pathetic institutions. To Russia they turn as to 
their political Kibla, even as their myriads address 
their prayers in worship before the temple of 
Mecca, or adore the benignant face of the day- 
illuming orb. To Russia, with intense desire, the 
expectant people daily and hourly look as the power 
representing to them the Deity on earth ; a saviour 
and protector ; the restorer of their political rights, 
the dignity of their kings, the bygone days of glory 
for the soldier, of peace and plenty for the peasant; 
security, power, and wealth, with absolute sway to 
princes. 



AVGHANISTAUN. 55 



CHAPTER II. 

REPLY TO COUNT BJORNSTJERNa's INDIA, CONTINUED. 

To proceed with the Count's work. Enough has 
been said to show that his enumeration of physical 
obstacles are for the most part imaginary, and his 
topographical " facts," almost without an exception, 
either false or exaggerated. He further remarks, 
*' the Panjab is a marshy country, intersected by 
five great rivers," and I reply, that there is not a 
natural marsh in the whole country so large as the 
palm of my hand. A portion of the great Indian 
desert penetrates into the Panjab, and terminates in 
the province of Gujerath, near the Himaleh moun- 
tains, occupying the country between the river 
Hydaspes and Hydraotes, (the Jelum and Ravee.) 
Beyond this, extending to the Indus, are the sterile, 
argillaceous, and intractable upland plains of 
Potewar; to the south are the desolate tracts of 
immense jungle, consisting of high grass, dwarf 
bair, tamarisk, and baubul, so that the only pro- 
ductive and highly cultivated districts lie east of 
the Hydraotes, towards the Sutledge, and these are 
never marshy or even saturated, except during the 
rainy season, when occasional heavy falls of water 



56 INDIA AND 

effect a temporary lodgement upon the flat surface 
of a plain many miles in length and breadth, from 
the river Bias (or Hyphasis) to the Sutledge (Sud- 
less or Hysudrus). Between these two rivers the soil 
is a fat vegetable mould, and the level of water is 
about three feet below the surface. Wells of this 
depth are sufficient for the purposes of irrigation, 
but the Panjab is nowhere marshy.* As for the 
rivers of the Panjab, I have crossed them all on 
horseback in the fall months ; and during winter the 
Indus may also be forded on horseback, near to and 
above the Attock ferry, without swimming the 
animal. 

The Count predetermines that Persia conjoined 
with Russia shall make no allies in a projected inva- 
sion of India. He alludes to the religious enmity 
existing between the Avghans and Persians: the for- 
mer being orthodox Soonee Mahomedans, whilst the 
latter are the schismatic followers of Ali, known by 
the sectarian appellation of Sheah. I can inform the 
Count that the religious watchword of " Dum i char 
Yar" no longer calls together the bigoted Soonee to 
oppose the less infatuated Sheahs in their alleged 
desecration of orthodoxy; and that these disciples 
of " Shah i Merdan" were tolerated and caressed in 
Cabul under the strictly impartial government of 
Dost Mahomed. There is no doubt of the violent 
enmity mutually prevailing between these two de- 
nominations, but governments are ruled by ex- 
pediency and not by religious bigotry or exasperated 

* Kanawan is the name of a fen made by the expansion of a 
stream forming a tributary amongst the head waters of the Bias. 
It skirts the Himaleh range, northeast of Lahore, on the frontier 
of Nadoun, a principal town of the Katouch principality, not 
within the geographical boundaries of the Panjab, although it has 
been subdued and added to the political compact of the Seiks. 



AVGHANISTAUN. 57 

sectarianism, though passion influences a casting 
vote where policy does not oppose its voice. If the 
Avghans under Dost Mahomed saw that Russia and 
Persia united were stronger than England, they 
would have joined the former; if they suspected the 
allies of inability to withstand their enemies, they 
would have rendered their cause less hopeful by 
coalescing with their enemies. But now the Eng- 
lish, having advanced into Avghanistaun and at- 
tempted the subjugation of their country, there is no 
longer a doubt but they would readily unite with the 
forces of Russia and Persia to regain their national 
independence ; and the British, in case of an invasion 
of India by these powers, would be obliged to defend 
possession of Avghanistaun against a hostile popula- 
tion and a foreign enemy, and at the same moment 
to maintain their power against the fermenting mil- 
lions in her Indian dominions, which position would 
be final and fatal. Page 227: " In these extensive 
sandy deserts which lie on the road to India, it is 
impossible for horses to draw the heavy artillery and 
its ammunition" — a gratuitous assertion, which any 
native of Avghanistaun, Beloochistaun, Scind, or 
almost any part of ^sia, — except the great desert of 
Kobi, with which I am unacquainted, but upon 
which the Russian archives would probably en- 
lighten him, — can tell the Count is not the fact. No 
native army moves without artillery. Dost Mahomed 
had sixty pieces of cannon, many of them heavy 
battering guns, drawn by oxen, and many pieces of 
horse artillery. Shah Shujah ul Moolk, in his mili- 
tary demonstration against Kaudhar in 1833, from 
Shaokarpore, had sixteen pieces of horse artillery col- 
lected between Loodianah and Scind; and the British 
army (1839), consisting of 20,000 fighting men and 



58 INDIA AND 

60,000 camp followers, was accompanied by a regu- 
lar train of artillery, consisting of heavy mortars, 
breaching ordnance, and Hght batteries, all of which 
were transported on their carriages by bullocks, by 
horses, or by manual labour. The whole country, 
from Meshud to Attock, where the open plains com- 
mence towards India, and from the river Oxus to the 
Indian ocean, has been traversed again and again 
by native armies, cavalry and infantry, caravans 
and camels, time out of mind, with untrammelled 
facility, as appears from history ancient and modern, 
— from the days of Xerxes, " who stirred up all 
against the realm of Grecia,"* to the frivolous 
ephemera which emanated from the superficial mili- 
tary book-makers who accompanied the late Eng- 
lish expedition into Cabul. Page 238: "Coming in 
the Avghan mountain passes, with their hard and 
stony paths, the camel is useless." Accompanying 
the English army from Shaokarpore via Kandhar to 
Cabul, there were thirty-five thousand camels, ac- 
cording to the verbal report of the fiscal agent at 
Cabul; many of these animals, bred in the plains of 
Hindostan, died from privation, fatigue, and climate; 
but seasoned camels, prepared to sustain these dis- 
qualifying incidents, native to Khorassaun and Ta- 
tary, are readily procurable for an army advancing 
from Bulkh. The Bactrian camels afe the hardiest 
of all, and the Bughtee or short-legged animal, bred 
from the double-hunched Bactrian male camel, and 
the single-humped dromedary, is the strongest of its 
species, and capable of unexampled endurance. By 
the construction of its foot, which is provided with 

* See the account by Herodotus of the muster-roll of Xerxes' 
army. 



AVGHANISTAUN. 59 

a longer toe-nail than ordinary to the dromedary, it 
is enabled to travel amongst mountains with ease. 
I have purchased this breed in Bactria, and found 
them excellent carriage cattle for crossing the In- 
dian Caucasus. I escorted a caravan into Bulkh, or 
rather a caravan was allowed to accompany my 
division, w^hen proceeding in the campaign against 
Kundooz in 1838-39. It was made up of 1600 
camels and 600 pack-horses. We crossed the Paro- 
pamisus, via Bameean, Rooey, and Derrah i EsofF, 
debouching upon Mozar. The camel is the ordinary 
beast of burden in Avghanistaun. Travelling mer- 
chants or Lohanees pass from Lucknow in the 
heart of India proper, to Bocharah,the great capital 
of Central Asia, with at least 10,000 camels in their 
annual professional and migratory visits between 
these two celebrated marts of Oriental commerce. 

The Count lays great stress on the physical and 
political obstacles to a Russian invasion of India, as 
they existed previous to the late conquest by Eng- 
land in Central Asia. All those difficulties refer to 
the topography of the country and government of 
the principalities lying between the frontiers of 
Persia and India. How much then does Russia 
now owe to England for removing all those safe- 
guards to India, by advancing her frontier to 
Heraut, at once annihilating the neutral ground 
between her own empire and her antagonist, so that 
when a Russian army shall reach Bulkh, which is 
sufficiently accessible, they will forthwith come 
into conffict with the English at Cabul 1 Avghanis- 
taun and Lahore, no longer allies, in which character 
the Count fancied a host of invincible friends, but with 
all the warlike and partially subdued communities 



60 INDIA AND 

lately* added to their troubled dominion, now de- 
cidedly exasperated into the condition of fierce and 
vindictive enemies, devoted to the revenge of their 
lost nationality, and ready to make common cause 
with the conquered princes of India proper. 

Page 243 : " A small army (inferring that a great 
one could not reach the Attock) cannot effect any 
thing on its arrival at the Indus against the supe- 
rior British force there stationed, which, amply 
supplied with the necessaries of war, can compete, 
as well in discipline and skill, as in bravery, with 
any army in the world." Without entering upon 
the questionable merits of the Anglo-Indian army, I 
will merely observe, that the same resources are 
available to Russia as have contributed for Eng- 
land the means of the Indian conquests, and that 
the " skill and bravery" of the Indian population is 
nowhere more plainly demonstrated than by the 
fact that some 30,000 Englishmen have subdued 
140,000,000 of them. 

Again, if the Anglo-Indian army " can compete, 
as well in discipline and skill, as in bravery, with 
any army in the world,^^ those same 30,000 English 
will stand a miserable chance of salvation against 
the Anglo-Indian army itself when sustained by 
100,000 regular troops of Russia, and the myriads 
that will rally under her standard in an Indian ex- 
pedition. The conquest of India by Russia involves 
an European question which will be decided when 
Constantinople shall no longer have a Moslem 
master; and this is a consummation which the fast 



* In the campaign against Cabul, for the establishment of the 
ancient regime under Shah Shujah ul Moolk, in 1838-39. 



AVGHANISTATJN. 61 

progressing dissolution of the Ottoman power will 
quickly determine. 

We conclude with the Count (p. 243) that " British 
India seems to have nothing to fear from an inva- 
sion by foreign armies, so long at least as tran- 
quillity can be maintained in the interior of the 
empire." But internal convulsion is the necessary 
consequence of an invasion, and " the way to pro- 
duce such a convulsion within the bosom of the 
empire in India would be, either to conquer by de- 
grees {subdue by treaties!) one after another those 
states which lie on the route ; to spread and 
exaggerate the reports of such conquests, and 
to excite those causes of fermentation already ex- 
isting there ; or, what would he easier^ merely to 
stimulate by political influence the hostile senti- 
ments of those states towards British India {and of 
the Indian princes against the English) ; to influence 
the desire which they have cherished for centuries 
to make conquests in that country ; to organize 
their forces in the European manner, and, when the 
time is come, to give miHtary leaders to their 
armies, and direct their strategical operations 
against India." 

It is a mortifying conclusion, and an opinion no less 
true than humiliating, " that the measures of the In- 
dian government ought to have more the character 
of stability than of movement, be suited more to the 
ideas of an oriental population than to those of an 
occidental. The first will quiet the millions of India, 
the second will frighten them as interfering with 
their jnental repose.^^ It is this principle which does 
control the British government in the administration 
of Indian affairs, and there is therefore no movement 
in any of the measures designed for India. Justly 
may we exclaim with Burke, that " the British em- 



62 INDIA AND 

pire in India is an awful thing." Whether viewed 
in regard to its responsibiUties or its results it is in- 
deed terrible and extraordinary. The government of 
140,000,000 human beings, emphatically subject to 
the people of England and not to the crown, involves 
the British nation individually and collectively in 
the accountability of at least the system if not the 
administration of Indian polity. The conquests of 
Alexander were legitimated by the results of his 
victories. His power was extended by the sword 
and maintained by the arts of civilization. The 
savage Bactrians, the voluptuous Persians, the 
philosophical gymnosophist, successively submitted 
to his sway and received the civilization of Greece. 
Cities peopled by his camp followers and super- 
annuated soldiers became the basis of his support in 
distant countries,* so that the Macedonian invasion 
was rather a migration of military colonies esta- 
blished throughout the wide-spread conquests of 
their leader, and remained a blessing to succeeding 
generations by the introduction of the refinements 
of life, the arts and sciences, in the midst of com- 
munities exhausted by luxury or still rude in the 
practices of barbarism — elevating these two con- 
ditions to the medium of nervous energy which 
characterized their invaders ; yet the conquests of 
Alexander were effected by violence and haste, and 

* There was an Alexandria founded near Heraut, before enter- 
ing the plain of Tatary, a position established at Bactra (Bulkh), 
and an Alexandria ad calcem Caucasi south of this range of 
mountains, near Cabul, which served for military bases in Alex- 
ander's demonstrations in Central Asia. The cities built or founded 
by the conqueror were originally nothing more than fortified camps ; 
and the subsequent wealth and magnificence of these celebrated 
places, testify the judicious selection of their sites for commercial 
and military purposes. 



AVGHANISTAUN. 63 

probably far beyond the extent originally contem- 
plated. The period occupied in the subjugation of 
the then known world was comprised between the 
time of his crossing the Hellespont and his return and 
death at Babylon, viz., from 330 to 323 B. C, in all 
about seven years. Vast designs for the benefit of 
mankind were conceived and executed within this 
brief space in the age of nations. So permanent 
were these projects in their results, that kingdoms 
and dynasties started into existence from well- 
planned schemes, which subsequently endured with 
the Seleu&idse and the Ptolemies through centuries of 
time, handing down to posterity the refinements and 
literature of Greece and Egypt ; perpetuating the 
purposes of benevolence which originated in the 
divine mind of their immortal founder, — the universal 
philanthropist no less than universal conqueror. 

The remnants of Grecian antiquities still to be 
found in Central Asia bear witness to the extent of 
civilization which existed in countries subdued by 
the remote operations of Alexander's expedition, 
after the lapse of twenty-two centuries. I have now 
before me an engraved gem, in the form of a signet, 
found at Beygram, (site of Alexandria ad calcem 
Caucasi,) near Cabul, representing the tutelar deity 
of Athens, in a threefold character, viz. : the patro- 
ness of navigation, of war, and of letters. The whole 
is comprised upon a table no larger than a central 
section of a split pea : the material a ruby, about 
the thickness of a playing card, highly polished. The 
engraving has been done by a few bold strokes of 
the practised hand of an expert artist : the finest 
delicacy of tact was necessary to manipulate the 
mere scale of a substance so extremely fragile. The 
figure represents Minerva standing on the prow of 



64 INDIA. AND 

a boat, armed with helmet, shield, and spear, and 
bearing the germ of letters near the back of the 
shoulder, the Greek alpha, which also implies the 
name of the goddess, Athenac. The bold and scien- 
tific address skilfully exhibited in the execution of 
the engraving, the polish of the gem, the voluminous 
design of the representation, indicate the arts, the 
sciences, the commerce, war, and letters predomi- 
nant twenty-two centuries ago in the heart of Asia, 
implanted there by a European philanthropist, in 
a country now no longer acquainted with the ex- 
pired empires which numbered its population and 
ancestry amongst the noblest of the human race, 
the accomplished progenitors of ancient days. In 
seven years Alexander performed feats that have 
consecrated his memory amongst the benefactors of 
mankind, and impressed the stamp of civilization on 
the face of the known world, which have comme- 
morated his labours amongst the blessings of a Deity 
with a deserved though flattering attribution of wor- 
shipping votaries. 

Turn now to England, and see what she has done 
for Asia after the military and unmolested posses- 
sion of the country, the absolute and undisputed 
administration of the government, legislative and 
executive, for a period of eighty years 1 England, 
the zealous friend of the purity of government 
throughout the universe, the country which arro- 
gates to itself a paramount position amongst the 
monarchs of this palmy world, the paragon of na- 
tions ! At this moment, if the Indo-British govern- 
ment was dissolved, and the English were withdrawn 
from India, there would be left no other memorial 
of their previous existence than the monuments of 
their inhumanity, — the barracks, the hospitals, and 



AVGHANISTAUN. 65 

the jails; the cantonments of their soldiers, the in- 
struments of their tyranny ; the hospitals and jails 
for the victims of their revenue system, their crush- 
ing political economy, their irresponsible and de- 
spotic sway. No city marks the site of British phi- 
lanthropy in fated India, but the ruins of villages 
and depopulated districts show where the griping 
hand of an English collector has blasted the hopes 
of a generation. Do we seek for commercial im- 
munities, facilities, or institutions bestowed upon the 
Indian people, and which may have been rationally 
anticipated as an expedient measure in a community 
whose rulers have been called a nation of " shop- 
keepers 1" — The certainty of temporary possession 
has cut short prospective legislation, and the destitute 
apathy of oppressed and plundered millions stand be- 
fore you in nakedness, hunger, and utter mendicity. 
Have the arts and civilization of Europe munifi- 
cently blessed the communities of Asia — the sci- 
ences and the beaux arts diffused among them? be- 
hold a laconic demonstration of the abuses attending 
on British policy in India. 

Slavery, " where the peasant is sold and none to 
buy," slavery in its cruellest form — forced labour 
without a patron. Famines, discontent, disaffec- 
tion, and rebellion, financial distress, fall of prices, 
reduced revenues, crime abounding, low wages and 
high interest of money, monopolies of salt, opium, 
and tobacco. Empire of opinion, might against 
right, cultivation declining, total absence of internal 
improvement, no public works, no roads, no canals,* 

* The reconstruction of the old canal of All Murdaun near Delhi 
does not impugn the assertion. The solitary and partial exception 

5 



66 INDIA AND 

no dissemination of knowledge or improvements in 
education. We see here the consequences of a 
miUtary despotism ; a government imposed upon 
milHons, and sustained hy the sword, without a 
philanthropic motive; originating in cupidity, nou- 
rished and developed by tyrannous force, sealed 
in blood. The tenure of the British rule is a 
phenomenon unprecedented in the history of man- 
kind, and of wonderful and unexampled interest. 

In the beginning, those who now govern India 
were an association of traders, a band of commer- 
cial adventurers, a body of hucksters, natives of a 
small, contemptible island in the Western Ocean. 
Having tasted the luxuries of Asia, enjoyed the 
profits of a voyage to India, and beheld the muni- 
ficent rivers of wealth which then flowed from 
exhaustless and untouched sources, these future 
conquerors, lowly and submissively, with unpre- 
tending humility solicited permission of the Indian 
princes to traffic in their dominions. A factory, 
purely for the transactions of their trade, was esta- 
blished and tolerated upon the extremest confines 
of the Moghul's possessions. The feeble Indians 
simply cherished with hospitable designs the starv- 
ing snake which was to bask hereafter in their 

rather proves the unfinished design of impotent enterprise. The 
British policy is full of ostentatious feints of systematic deception, 
amongst which the garb of philanthropy is an antique habit. 
Witness her long-practised anti-slavery doctrines in the West 
exploded by her grasping and audacious assumption of maritime 
supremacy ; her infamous invasion of Chinese civilization, with 
the pretext of dispelling the illusions of barbarism amongst a 
people where, if stability of government and " the greatest happi- 
ness of the greatest number" are criterions of judgment, the palm 
of refinement is unsuccessfully contested by any European nation. 



AVGHANISTAUN. 67 

vitals, to batten upon the blood of their people, and 
fertilize futurity with the plunder of their treasures. 
The Indians say they craved only so much land 
as might be enclosed by a cow's hide ; the favour 
was conferred, and the claimants shred their hide 
into strings, artfully enclosing a considerable space, 
upon which ^factory or rather a fort — for the edifice 
served both purposes — was quietly reared, and they 
became for one hundred and fifty years the unmo- 
lested possessors of a malignant spot upon the disk 
of a threatened empire. Other European nations, 
the Spaniards, the Portuguese, the French and the 
Dutch, had attempted the experiment of distant 
dominion. To these people, who anticipated the 
English in the assumption of political power, our 
band of adventurers became the object of jealous 
hostility. Prompted by the successful issue of 
speculations planned by their European competitors 
for the political aggrandizement of their respective 
establishments, the English were stirred to the exe- 
cution of ambitious projects which invested them 
with territorial sovereignty; subsequently, the neces- 
sity of defending their position involved them in 
wars of endless conquests. The Indians too late dis- 
covered their fatal error; unavailing efforts to drive 
out the intruders served to strengthen their enemies ; 
they were diverted from defensive measures by 
internal commotions, and distracted by the crash of 
the Moghul Empire, which was then in a state of 
rapid dissolution. Their struggles were enfeebled by 
domestic divisions ; the English, ever ready to avail 
themselves of these disasters, stimulated the native 
chiefs, as the princes of India strove for independence, 
against each other ; and carrying out the maxim of 
" divide et impera," they became the umpires of 



68 INDIA AND 

conflicting governments. Wielding the power thus 
attained for the prosecution of their original object, 
as they gradually assumed the supremacy of do- 
minion, and each successive conquest, like a stone 
thrown into the sea of nations, has expanded the 
circles of their power, until every, part of the Moghul 
Empire has become subjugated to their sway. 

Sir John Malcolm informs us, " the Company 
were indebted to a physician for the formation of 
their establishment in Bengal." This was the com- 
mencement of their prosperity, and they owed their 
fortune to a singular accident. A gentleman named 
Broughton, went from Surat to Agra, where he 
chanced to cure the daughter of the Emperor Shah 
Jehan of a severe malady ; among the rewards of 
this benefit, he received the privilege of carrying on 
a free trade. His medical skill also ingratiated him 
with the Nawaub of Bengal, who extended the pri- 
vilege to his nation ; and the Company were enabled 
in 1636 to build a factory at Hoogly. Their medi- 
cal officers frequently became diplomatic agents, 
when despatched on professional visits to the Indian 
princes. On another occasion one of these prac- 
tised messengers sent to the Emperor Feroksere in 
1715, was instructed to solicit exclusive commercial 
immunities for his nation; in this petition he was 
successful.* Thus, the foundations of this vast empire 

* The superior skill of Europeans in medicine, which had first 
enabled them to obtain a footing in Bengal, now afforded an op- 
portunity of greatly extending their influence. In 1715, under the 
reign of the Emperor Feroksere, the Presidency sent two factors, 
with an Armenian merchant, on a commercial mission to Delhi. 
"The principal object was defeated, but the Emperor happening 
to labour under a severe illness, which the ignorance of the native 
physicians rendered them unable to treat with success, was com- 
pletely cured by a medical gentleman named Hamilton, who ac- 



AVGHANISTAUN. 69 

may be inscribed by the voice of fancy, with the 
retord of gratitude due to the professional abilities 
of a physician. Eighty years have elapsed since 
the operations of Lord Clive renewed the English 
power in India, and within that period has the 
mighty sway been created, which now embraces a 
great continent, and 140,000,000 vassals subject to 
the political influence of England. Their systena is 
chiefly managed by a native sly my of about 160,000 
well disciplined troops, while the entire nnilitary 
force, composed of British or Europeans, falls short 
of 30,000 ; and the estimated number of all the 
Europeans in India, not in the civil or military 
service, scarcely reaches three thousand ! 

companied the embassy. For this signal service he was desired 
to name his reward. Animated by a patriotic spirit, he asked only 
privileges and advantages for the Company, and obtained a grant 
of three villages in the vicinity of Madras, with liberty to purchase 
in Bengal thirty seven additional townships ; an arrangement 
which would have secured a territory extending ten miles upwards 
from Calcutta. 

" The Emperor granted also the still more important privilege 
of introducing and conveying their goods through Bengal, without 
duty or search. But the acquisition of these districts was frus- 
trated by the artful hostility of the Nawaub, who, by private threats 
deterred the owners from consenting to the purchase. Still the 
permission of free trade, though limited to foreign exports and im- 
ports, proved of the greatest importance, and soon rendered Cal- 
cutta a very flourishing settlement." — Hist, of India, vol. i. p. 268. 



70 INDIA AND 



CHAPTER III. 

GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES OF BRITISH INDIA ^MORAL 

AND PHYSICAL CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE. 

The British power now embraces the whole of 
that vast region, which extends from Cape Comorin 
to the mountains of Thibet and the Indian Cau- 
casus, and from the longitude of Heraut to Arracan 
inclusive, (between 64° and 94° east of London.) 
By the military occupation of eastern Khorassaun 
(Avghanistaun) as an impregnable frontier against 
foreign European aggression, imagining their power 
sufficiently consoHdated in Central Asia, they have 
despatched an armament of European and native 
troops to open negotiations with the Emperor of 
China for the establishment of their commercial rela- 
tions with that empire on a firm basis of lasting 
friendship! 

A correct knowledge of the moral and physical 
character of the people inhabiting the Indo-British 
empire, will lead us to a proper estimate of their 
military powers, enable us to ascertain their value 
amongst the race of man, and the rank of their 
degree in the range of civilization. 

The Hindoo and Mussulman population, which 



AVGHANISTAUN. 71 

are the principal divisions of the mass, comprises 
every variety and description of human beings. 
Some of them intelligent and active, but for the 
most part oppressed by poverty, sunk into apathy, 
and debased by revolting ignorance. The bravest 
and the boldest men may be found in the midst 
of the timid and abject. The fierce spirit of their 
turbulent military tribes is untamed. Partially re- 
strained by their conquerors, the unbounded genius 
of revenge, the self-consuming and the self-existing 
principle of ambition stimulate their hatred of a 
foreign race. Impatient and incorrigible, they che- 
rish a profound mahgnily of aversion to the British 
yoke. But their efforts to throw off the power that 
trammels the expansion of dark designs, displays 
the futility of military enterprise unsustained by 
social faith. Reciprocal fidelity is the bond of union 
which confirms the social condition of man, and 
unity is the key that opens before us the portal to 
successful results. National mistrust of their native 
princes, arising from their unstable principles, their 
infirmity of purpose, their cupidity, and the imbe- 
cility of mere physical force opposed to scien- 
tific system, generate treason in place of confi- 
dence, and to realize their hopes of future indepen- 
dence, a point of concentration is ardently sought 
after, which shall be antagonist in every attribute 
to their European military oppressors. By the aid 
of such a power they may achieve the ascendant, 
and recover the inheritance of their ancestorial 
rights. 

" The native soldier — who are for the most part 
Hindoos — is shrewd, quick and tractable; facile in 
his conception, and fond of pre-eminence and mili- 
tary glory ; irascible and readily excited, capable 



72 INDIA AND 

when skilfully managed of courageous efforts and en- 
during patience;" but his physical powers are feeble 
and unsuited to the moral aptitude of perseve- 
rance. Quickly exhausted, he falls an early victim 
to continued fatigue, and the inclemencies of a cold 
and novel climate, which would scarcely be re- 
garded by the robust capabilities of an European. 
The granivorous Indian falling into hopeless, list- 
less insignificance in comparison with the massive- 
limbed carnivorous consumer of the western hemi- 
sphere. The physical temperament of the Hindoos 
has strongly affected their character, and exhibits 
prominently their incapability to oppose the robust 
strength and personal prowess of European troops. 
'' Their make is slender and delicate ; their shapes are 
in general fine; the muscular strength is small, even 
less than the appearance of their bodies, though ex- 
pressive of weakness, would lead the spectator to 
infer. Their stature in general is considerably 
lower than the European standard, though such 
inferiority is more remarkable in the south, and 
diminishes as you advance towards the north. The 
extreme simplicity and lightness of the aliments 
used by the Hindoo, and the smallness of his con- 
sumption, owing to his sedentary life and the sump- 
tuary laws of his religious system, must undoubt- 
edly have been amongst the causes of the lightness 
and feebleness of his frame: his food consists 
almost solely of rice, and his drink is nothing but 
water. Abstinence and temperance, whilst they 
generate mutually sustaining each other. His de- 
mands are satisfied with a pittance which appears 
extreme to the people of almost every other part of 
the world. The prohibition by the Hindoo religion 
of the flesh of animals for food is not such as to 



AVGHANISTAUN. 73 

have produced by any means a total abstinence, 
but the quantity consumed is no doubt small. The 
luxury of the Hindoo is butter, prepared in a man- 
ner pecuUar to himself, called by him ghee. 

*' In Hindostan the people of all sorts are a dimi- 
nutive race. From the great delicacy of his tex- 
ture the Hindoo's imagination and passions are 
easily inflamed, and he has a sharpness and quick- 
ness of intellect which seems strongly connected 
with the sensibility of his outward frame. But 
though the body of the Hindoo is feeble it is agile 
in an extraordinary degree. In running and march- 
ing they equal, if not surpass, people of the most 
robust constitutions. Their messengers will go fifty 
miles a day for twenty or thirty days without inter- 
mission. Their infantry, if totally unincumbered 
ivith burthens, which they could by no means sup- 
port, will march faster and with less weariness 
than Europeans. Another remarkable circum- 
stance in the character of the Hindoos, in part too 
no doubt the effect of corporeal weakness, though 
in some sort opposite to that excitability which has 
been remarked, is the inertness of disposition so re- 
markable to all observers of this peculiar race. 
The love of repose reigns in India with more pow- 
erful sway than in any other region probably of the 
globe. Listlessness and phlegmatic indolence per- 
vade the inhabitants, who follow the precepts of 
Brahma. Few pains, to the mind of a Hindoo, 
are equal to that of bodily exertion ; the pleasure 
must be intense which he prefers to that of its total 
cessation." This listlessness and apathy is partly 
the effect of climate and partly the consequence of 
their political system, the first deteriorating the 
body, and the latter subduing the intellectual ener- 



74 INDIA AND 

gies. Inanition and oppression bring mendicity and 
nnisery in their train. From tiiis condition of life 
they are relieved by death, and the belief in the 
transmigration of souls presents the finale of nature 
in the light of a coveted maturity. 

The tyrannical and ruinous system of fiscal 
policy and bad revenue institutions deprive the 
peasant of all extraneous wealth accruing from the 
utmost stretch of labour, and leaves merely the 
miserable portion of necessary rations for animal 
subsistence. The plan of farming great estates to 
the Zemindars, who adopt the principle of subletting 
to the highest bidder to minor labourers, produces 
precisely the same distressing effects in India as 
follow the same project of agriculturists in Ireland. 
Mendicity and the spirit of turbulence, held down 
by the bayonet, give rise to apathy and listlessness. 
Thus a government, evil in effect and absolute in 
form, — a British executive government, without 
British law, an Oriental despotism, — has riveted 
the shackles of slavery upon the whole agricultural 
population of British India. 

The working classes, — and here every man is a 
productive labourer except the usurer (money- 
lender,) — provide for the luxury of others, and in 
most instances barely participating in the fruits 
thereof. And it is a fact, that the inhabitants of 
extensive districts have been known to subsist on 
the spontaneous produce of the soil, as grass seeds, 
potherbs and ground thorns, during several months 
in the year. The price of one-sixth of a penny 
sterling (about half a pice) in the quantity of flour 
necessary for daily subsistence, is a sufficient cause 
to command and induce the temporary migration of 
the poor members of a community, from a village 



AVGHANISTAUN. 75 

whose produce may have suffered from drought, to 
another more fortunate, though at the distance of 
several days' journey. Immense crov^ds of persons 
who depend upon day-work for their subsistence, 
are sometimes seen moving through a country in 
rags or nakedness, flying before the pestilence of 
threatened famine, whilst pampered luxury prevails 
in the palaces of their chiefs. The natives of India, 
subjected to a wretched government, under which 
the fruits of labour are not secure, are without a 
motive to work, no less so than the enslaved 
African for whom the EngUsh affect the warmest 
sympathy. 



76 INDIA AND 



CHAPTER IV. 

FOREIGN RELATIONS OF BRITISH INDIA. 

By referring to the foreign relations of the Indo- 
British empire, we shall instantly see the fragile 
tenure by which England preserves possession of 
her Oriental dominions. According to the highest 
authority it is alone by the bravery and fidelity of 
the sepoys that India can be preserved to Great 
Britain. Sir John Malcolm deprecates any acces- 
sion to the European force, on the ground that it 
might, from particular causes, weaken the attach- 
ment and lessen the efficiency of the native troops ; 
at the same time this very competent judge acknow- 
ledges that his countrymen can never succeed in 
establishing any cordial or social union with their 
Indian subjects, so widely do they differ in manners, 
language, religion, and feelings. Other material 
circumstances contribute to render the British do- 
minion precarious and unique, and to exact the 
utmost care in the selection of the depositary of 
that arbitrary power, without which it cannot be 
prolonged, or even beneficially administered for the 
rulers or the people.* 

* " British government without British law !" 



AVGHANISTAUN. 77 

Sir John Malcolm observes : " The only safe 
view that Great Britain can take of her empire in 
India, is to consider it, as it really is, always in a 
state of danger, and to think it quite impossible to 
render her possessions in that country secure, ex- 
cept under the management of able and firm rulers. 
If a succession of men of great talents and virtues 
cannot be found, or if the operation of any influ- 
ence on party feelings and principles prevents their 
being chosen, we must reconcile ourselves to the 
serious hazard of the early decline, if not the loss 
of the great dominion we have founded in the East." 

This was the condition of the British power in 
India at a time when there was no European rival, 
or the prospect of an antagonist, on the immense 
arena of conflicting nations. How has the preca- 
rious position of the government been aggravated 
by the approximation of a hostile power in the Rus- 
sian military demonstrations and prevalence of her 
diplomatic influence in Persia, in Central Asia, and 
the contiguous provinces of India ! Considerations 
of this nature induced the governor-general of India 
to attempt and effect the military occupation of 
Avghanistaun. This measure of the Indo-British 
government is a profound error of policy. Diplo- 
macy and economy condemn the movement, no 
less than the national safety and defensive plan of 
operations which the position of India suggests. 

It was remarked by a son of Jelall ul Deen, 
Akber, the greatest of his race who dignified the 
throne of the Great Moghul, that the fortress of 
Akberabad was without a ditch. The Emperor 
replied, " My son, the river Indus is the ditch of 
Agra." The Indus has always been alleged as the 
frontier of India, and the laws of Menu prohibit the 



78 INDIA AND 

followers of Bramah from crossing that stream. 
But the institutes of the reverend Menu are not 
without the pale of reformation ; the god of Menu 
has been partially displaced from his temples in 
these degenerate days, and gold is worshipped as 
the spirit of the age. The conservative and un- 
changing Brahmin, at the bidding of his golden 
deity, threw dust in the eyes of Menu, and ir- 
reverently disobeyed the laws of his forefathers. 
The geographical boundary on the west has been 
crossed ; a barrier to the self-protection of India 
overthrown ; new kingdoms have been subdued at 
an enormous and incredible expense. Extended 
foreign relations, and the acquisition of strange 
dominions unconnected with India, require separate 
establishments, military and civil, for their mainte- 
nance ; and we have now a portion of the empire 
of Central Asia to encrase our consideration, which 
is another and an independent Tatar dominion, in 
no way a part of the Indo-British government, 
having relations with the surrounding states in- 
volving a web of policy that brings back again to 
Europe the universal sway of England. 

A line now drawn from Constantinople to Pekin, 
(exclusive of Persia,) will divide the East between 
England and Russia ; all to the south falling to the 
former, whilst the latter emphatically claims and 
holds the north. By advancing their frontier into 
Central Asia, the British re-established what has 
some time been the political boundary of India, viz. : 
the Indian Caucasus ; though if this consideration 
influenced their measures, they should have gone to 
the river Oxus, which still more frequently has been 
the political boundary of the Persian or the Indian 
empire, dividing the Maver ul Neher and Khwa- 
rizm of Arabian geographers from the latter. 



AVGHANISTAUN. 79 

Unconnected and distant from India, the partially 
subdued and struggling Avghans still oblige their 
infidel masters to depend upon their southeastern 
dominion as a base of action ; thus they aggravate 
the hazard of compromising the safety of their In- 
dian empire, for without elaborating the means of 
sustaining a large military force in Central Asia, 
they have incurred the responsibility of defending, 
from a distant base, liable to interruption from poli- 
tical, and they may be permanent causes, a position, 
the evacuation of which cannot be proposed without 
displaying an inferiority to their competitors. The 
elucidation of this truth would draw upon them the 
quiescent but not subdued energies of a turbulent 
and oppressed population. The approach of Rus- 
sian influence, and the extension of her frontier, 
places the British government in the dangerous po- 
sition of being obliged to defend her Indian empire 
against internal commotion, at the same moment 
she is necessitated to repel the agression of a foreign 
power, with whom the means of her defence are 
physically inadequate to contend ! But I am of 
opinion that the moral influence of Russia could ex- 
tinguish by diplomacy alone the British power in 
India. Sustained by a military force at Bulkh, the 
intelligent and astute corps diplomatique of Russia 
*' would excite those causes of fermentation existing 
there," which would produce " a convulsion within 
the bosom of the empire," revolutions of opinion, 
rebellions, insurrections en masse of the whole popu- 
lation, war, violence, and devastation, desolating 
and exterminating the English, and ending in the 
disintegration of the British empire. 



80 * INDIA AND 



CHAPTER V. 

ROUTES INTO INDIA. 

By my late expedition into Tatary from Cabul 
to Bulkh in 1838-39, an enterprise of great magni- 
tude was accomplished. Commanding a division 
of the Cabul army, and accompanied by a train of 
artillery, that stupendous range of mountains the 
Indian Caucasus was crossed through the Paropa- 
misus. The military topography and resources of 
the country were practically tested. Impediments 
which were supposed to present insurmountable ob- 
stacles to the passage of an army, proved to be dif- 
ficulties readily vanquished by labour and perseve- 
rance, and the practicability of invading India from 
the north, no longer doubtful, has become a feasible 
and demonstrable operation. 

To follow the system of Alexander, Bulkh, the 
ancient Bactra, should be made the base of action 
of every military movement against India. Bulkh is 
the capital of Central Asia, morally and politically; 
and the power holding possession of this far-famed 
city, — which is supposed by the Orientals to have 
been the first built, thence called Mader i Bulad, 
or the Mother of Cities, — would be enabled to exer- 
cise over the superstitious natives a supremacy 



AVGHANISTAUN. 81 

which it is an article of their faith to number 
amongst the fated incidents of their race, viz., the 
predominance of Christian policy over the king- 
doms of all the earth ; — and one of the signs which 
mark the approach of this period, is indicated by 
the re-edification of Bulkh, which is again to flou- 
rish, according to their traditions, as the capital of 
Central Asia. 

The resources of the Uzbeck States have sus- 
tained the armies of a conqueror, who we are 
told by history plundered both Delhi and Moscow 
(whose descendant still occupies the throne of 
Pekin), and whose dynasty has, within the last 
eighty years, been removed from the throne of 
Delhi ! The greatest military empires that ever 
existed, not inferior even to the Russian of this age, 
or rather day, strove for predominance on the 
Uzbeck plains, and ruled alternately at Bulkh, at 
Samerkand, or Ghiznee ; respectively, the empire 
of Darius Hystaspes, the empire of Timour, and of 
Abastagi, or Mahmoud. These expired empires, 
no longer claiming military distinction in the grade 
of nations, have become purely agricultural and 
pastoral, and adequate to the maintenance of mili- 
tary array now as when under the sway of Darius 
Hystaspes,* of Chagati, of Timour, and Mahmoud. 
Numberless hosts have contested for mastery upon 

* In the reign of Darius Hystaspes the celebrated Zoroaster 
promulgated at Bulkh or Bactra the religious system of the Fire- 
Worshippers, and in this place a great temple was foiinded and 
dedicated to the Sun. At present every remnant of antiquity has 
disappeared from superficial inspection, and no vestiges of the 
former existence of a Grecian or Persian city are now visible, 
although the uneven surface of the ground in the vicinity of the 
modern town, would probably disclose beneath its mounds indi- 
cations of former days. 

6 



82 INDIA AND 

these plains, and nation following nation from the 
far and naysterious East, have poured forth their 
migratory hordes over this great thoroughfare of 
the world to conquer and to colonize the wastes of 
Europe with Tatar blood,* and prove the fruitful- 
ness of Central Asia.-j- 

Those golden-sanded rivers, the Oxus and Jax- 
artes, penetrate far into the interior of the Uzbeck 
States, and connect their remotest provinces with 
the great commercial depot of Astrakhan in southern 
Russia, and ultimately with Moscow : they ensure 
the necessary capabilities for strategical demonstra- 
tions. Whilst the political divisions and internal dis- 
sensions of the country invite the regard of Russia, 
the geography multiplies the facilities of accomplish- 
ing all that an invading power could aspire to hope. 
To ascertain the probabilities of success in any 
enterprise, we should examine the facts and attend 
to the results attained under corresponding circum- 
stances. Reviewing the causes and consequences 
connected with the adventures of antecedent con- 
querors of India, we may observe, that this country, 
though it has frequently been subjugated, has always 
been subdued, until the advent of British ascendancy, 
by an invasion from the north ; and it is an undoubted 
fact, that each individual who signalized his name 
by an inroad into, or aggrandized his empire by 
annexing India to his dominions, consummated his 
views through similar if not precisely the same plan 
of operations. Abstracting from the account of 
available references the antiquated and problematic 
intimations of India derived from scriptural allusions 

* The Huns, the Alemanni, the Turks and Moghuls, &c. &c. 
t The Uzbeck States. 



AVGHANISTAUN. 83 

in the days of Ezekiel (xxvii. 23), the fabulous 
mythology of Bacchus, and the no less doubtful 
traditions of Sesostris and Semiramis, we assume 
with Herodotus the authenticated records of history, 
which point to Darius Hystaspes as the first suc- 
cessful invader of India, whose inroads were at- 
tended by permanent results. When India formed 
one of the twenty satrapies of Persia, Bactra was 
the capital of Darius, a city upon the site of which 
we have now the modern town of Bulkh ; and it 
was from this position of the central province of 
the Sun, that Darius, having previously ascertained 
by the expedition of Scylax the feasibility of his 
own ambitious designs, attempted and effected the 
conquest of India. Subsequently, Alexander claimed 
India as a province of Persia, as partially appears 
from Quintus Curtius. Having overrun the whole 
of the Persian empire as far as the river Jaxartes, 
he established a government and cantoned his army 
for awhile at Bulkh, and finding Persia every 
where subdued and submissive, he crossed the Paro- 
pamisus and completed the subjugation of the known 
world by the conquest of India. Bulkh was his base 
of action on the north of the Paropamisian range. 
There is a gorge opening into the valley of Cabul 
near Seri Chushma, at the debouche of the pass of 
Onai, descending from the north, which is called at 
this day " Dahun i Secundereah," or debouche of 
Alexandria. From this incident it may be inferred 
the valley of Cabul was probably known to the 
Greeks as the province of Alexandria, and that 
Beygram was the site of the city of Alexandria 
ad calcem Caucasi. This position was one of 
the intermediate points of communication between 
Bactra and iVttock, the chain being completed by 



84 INDIA AND 

Nysia — supposed to have been founded by Bacchus, 
now called Ningrahar or Djilallabad — and Peshour, 
the Peucalaotes* of the Greeks. Alexandria ad 
calcem Caucasi, as may be seen by inspection of the 
map, commands the debouche of the route over the 
Hindoo Kush, via Ghorebund, and also that by 
Panjshare. The western extremity of the plain, 
called Koh damum, in which the ancient city stood, 
commands the Bameean route at the gorge of Se- 
cundereah. The city being placed on the eastern 
side of the plain, in the vicinity of the difficult moun- 

* Peucalaotes — This term evidently means Peshour ; for if we 
cut off the Greek termination, which their writers were accustomed 
to add to the names of localities, we have Peucola. Now in the 
Avghan pronunciation the s in Peshour is pronounced k, and we 
have Peukola. The 1 is represented by r in languages which are 
deficient in the liquid, as the Chinese : where the 1 does not exist, 
The r is always substituted ; and you are sometimes olFered a very 
unsaleable commodity by a Chinaman who proposes to dispose of 
a bag of rice. The sound of 1 and r when occurring in the middle 
division of a word is scarcely distinguishable, and those who lisp 
or have otherwise an impediment in their speech, invariably say 
one for the other, so that by this process of derivation, without 
violating orthography, we have the modern Peshour distinctly 
representing the Greek Peucalaotes. By a similar mode of deriva- 
tion we have the modern Ab-i-Cheen, Ab-i-Sinai, or Ascessines ; and 
Ravee from Hydraotes or Hydravotes, the first syllable signifying 
river or water, the third place or locality, the second the native 
Indian name. The Byas, Bias, Beeas or Veas, is the Hyphasis. 
The Sutledge, Sudless, Sudruss, Sudledge, is the Hysudrus, making 
Sudless without the Greek prefix. The name of Hydaspes comes 
from the compound of river and horse in the Greek and Persian 
languages. The appellation was probably conferred in consequence 
of the death of Bucephalus, who was killed in the battle with Porus 
or Poorun, as he is called in Indian annals, which was fought upon 
the plain bordered on its west by the Hydaspes, in the modern 
jurisdiction of Guzerath, of which I was both civil and military 
governor for several years when in the service of his highness 
Maba Rajah Runjeet'h Singh, Prince of the Panjab. 



AVGIIANISTAUN. 85 

tain passes towards Ghorebund, or Gholebund,* as 
it is colloquially pronounced, Panjshare, Tugao Saffi, 
and Tazeen, to restrain the wild hordes of those 
alpine districts, whilst it also overruled and garri- 
soned the plain. 

After the death of Alexander, Bactria, which in- 
cluded Avghanistaun, fell to Seleucus, and shortly 
after the decline of the Syrian kingdom, became an 
independent state, governed by Grecian rulers, and 
continued several ages a powerful and enlightened 
dominion. 

The history of this period is involved in darkness, 
and the only elucidation which can now be ascer- 
tained has lately been laid open by interesting and 
important discoveries in numismatology. Coins, 
which are the representatives of expired nations, 
now illuminate the mysterious history of the Bac- 
trian empire, denoting to modern investigation its 
extent and power. Under Menander, some of 
whose coins are now in my possession, Bactria 
was bounded on the north by the river Jaxartes, on 
the south by the Indian ocean ; and the conquests 
of this prince passed the Hyphasis on the east. The 
western boundary was probably the Caspian Sea. 
It was after the duration of nearly two hundred 
years that the irruption of barbarous conquerors 
from the North, the Chagat£e or Getse, and the rise 
of the Parthian empire, put an end to the kingdom 
of Bactria (page 49-50, Hist, of India.) 

India was invaded by the Parthian prince, Mithri- 

* Gholebund signifies spirifs prison, and it is a singular coinci- 
dence that the immense and undefined cave at Finjan is known in 
Sancrit lore as the cave of Promet'h, and is doubtless the locality 
called by the Greeks the cave of Prometheus, near which, we are 
told, was situated the city of Alexandria ad calcem Caucasi. 



86 INDIA AND 

dates, but his expedition was probably a temporary 
inroad, as we are not aware of any permanent 
Parthian domination in India. Coins of the Sassa- 
nadian dynasty are numerous and frequently found 
in extensive deposits, adventitiously disclosed by the 
agricultural labours of individuals. They have been 
brought to view by the plough or the spade in con- 
siderable deposits, contained in earthen pots. A 
treasure of this kind was brought to Dost Mahomed, 
who despatched the coins to the mint, where the 
melting pot shortly renewed their currency. The 
Persians of Artaxerxes also penetrated far beyond 
the Indus. The coins of Julius Caesar and Mark 
Antony, with other rare antiquities of the Romans, 
have been found at Mankyallah in the Panjab. 

In the year 873 Ismael Samani of Bocharah 
assumed the title of king, and after nearly one 
hundred years the decline of his dynasty and a 
disputed succession enabled Abastagi, governor of 
the province of Khorassaun, Bulkh being his capi- 
tal, successfully to raise the standard of insurrec- 
tion. Becoming an independent sovereign, located 
at Bulkh, he added to his domain the high mountain 
territory of Cabul and Kandhar. The Avghans 
were a nation of hardy shepherds, husbandmen, 
and warriors, who have often extended the autho- 
rity of their princes over the surrounding countries. 
Here Abastagi selected Ghiznee as the capital of 
an empire which long ruled over Asia. From this 
period — 977, A. D. — we have authentic Mahomedan 
records of Indian history, by which we are made 
acquainted with the revolutions of dominion en- 
dured by the natives of that country. The succes- 
sors of Abastagi, in 997, A. D., subdued the repre- 
sentative of the Samanian dynasty, who ruled in 



AVGHANISTAUN. 87 

Bocharah. Mahmoud,* the son of Sebuctagi,f 
joined with the King of the Uzbecks in extinguish- 
ing the empire of Bocharah, and the fine territory 
of Maver ul Neher (Transoxiana) was added to his 
dominion, which then comprehended all Asia, from 
the Caspian Sea to the Indus. In the reign of 
Masaood, who succeeded Mahmoud, the migratory 
conquests of the Turks under the Seljukian dynasty 
overran Khorassaun, and the successors of the 
Ghuznevide contended in vain with Toghrul, who 
subverted the throne of Bagdad, and was installed 
by Ul Keim, the last of the Khuleefas (caliphs), 
vicegerent of the Prophet. He was followed by 
Alp Arslan, that just and gallant warrior, who 
wrote upon his tomb at Mer'w, " Ye who have 
seen the glory of Alp Arslan exalted to the heavens, 
come and see it buried under the dust." The mo- 
narchs of Ghiznee saw wrested from them the fine 
plains of Khorassaun and Iraun — even that of Bulkh 
— and their dominion confined within the mountain 
barrier of the Caucasus. To the Toorks, whose 
inroads into India were commemorated by the nup- 
tial bonds of Alp Arslan's heir with the house of 
Ghiznee, the Ghorian monarchs succeeded. 

This dynasty was also derived from the North. 
The Ghorian princes sprang from a race of hardy 
mountaineers who inhabited the highest arable alti- 
tudes of the Paropamisus, now called Yenghore, 
near Bameean. Mahmoud of Ghoree obtained the 
government of Ghiznee in 1 174. He invaded India 
through Mooltaun and Ajmeer, consequently, to 
reach the last named place, he passed through the 

* In 997. 

t Called by Mahomedan historians Sebuktageen. He was the 
General of Abastagi, He ascended the throne of Ghiznee in 977. 



88 INDIA AND 

Great Western Desert, which separates Rajpootana 
from Scind and Bhawulpore. 

Two campaigns were fought with Scythian 
valour ; the victories of the last repairing the dis- 
asters of the first, ended in the tumultuary flight and 
irredeemable discomfiture of the Indian army. The 
King of Delhi fell, and his empire became the prey 
of the Moslems, whose dominion was for the first 
time established in the heart of India. Mahomed 
returned to Ghuznee by the way of Lahore, leaving 
his lieutenant, Kuttub, to maintain his authority in 
that quarter. He was murdered on the banks of 
the Indus, near Attock, by the Guickwars, and the 
dynasty of Ghoree fell w'ith him. His lieutenants, 
Ildecuz in Ghuznee, and Kuttub in Delhi, soon 
erected for themselves independent sovereignties. 
Kuttub ul Deen was the founder of the Avghan or 
Patan dynasty, which continued from 1210 to the 
invasion and conquest of Baber the Moghul in 1525. 
The rule of the Patan dynasty was disturbed by the 
invasion of Timour the Tatar, known in oriental 
history by the cognomen of Timourleng; he claimed 
descent from Chungez. Timour conquered Delhi, 
but retained no acquisitions in India. His attention 
was drawn oflf by distant operations in Persia, and 
the west, Constantinople then being besieged by 
Byazeed (Bajazet). He was a native of Kokand 
or Ferghana, and after his death his immense domi- 
nions falling to pieces, this province of Kokand was 
all that remained to liis descendant Baber. Those 
conquerors also penetrated into India, via Cabul, 
crossing the Paropamisus from Bulkh. Of Timour it 
is said, " he set out from Samarkand (the Marakanda 
of Q. Curtius) in 1397, and advanced without diffi- 
culty along the immense plains of Bactria. Then 



AVGHANISTAUN. 89 

he had to scale the tremendous barrier of the Indian 
Caucasus," &c. Subsequent to Baber, India was 
invaded by his son Humaioon, who had been de- 
throned and exiled. After residing several years 
at the Court of Persia, he regained his crown 
through the countenance of Shah Tamasp, who had 
maintained him with regal munificence. The King 
of Persia provided him with ten thousand men, and 
presented him with Cabul in Jaghire, on condition 
of his embracing the sectarian faith of Persia — that 
sect, called Sheah, viewed as schismatics by the 
orthodox Mahomedans. This stipulation, which 
the Indian prince seems never to have violated, 
accounts for the prevalence of the Sheah sect in 
India, all the Mahomedan rulers of which empire 
w^ere of the Suni or orthodox persuasion, until the 
reign of Humaioon. Receiving Cabul as a free 
gift from the King of Persia, he immediately added 
Kandhar to his possessions by treachery : thus 
returning the munificence of Shah Tamasp by an 
act of ingratitude und unthankful depravity. In- 
ternal rebellions frequently disturbed the peace of 
India, and the monarch, when obliged to yield to 
the adverse fortune of war, usually retreated to 
Cabul as a place of temporary refuge, where, 
gathering strength from the military population, 
they again subjected India to their sway. 

Nadir Shah, the Persian invader of India, in 1736 
conquered Avghanistaun. It is said he first subdued 
Cabul and then reduced Kandhar. It is certain a 
division passed from Bulkh to Cabul, as I have 
been informed by the Uzbeck Prince of Khoolum, 
Mahomed Amir Beg Meer i Wallee, from whom I 
received the traditional lore of Nadir's inroad. 
Nadir saw what the sagacity of Lord Auckland 



90 INDIA AND 

could not penetrate, that India and Persia could not 
be united in one kingdom ; and contenting himself 
with exacting from the King of Delhi, when the 
Indian empire lay prostrate at his feet, as he stood 
upon the ruins of its plundered capital, the cession 
of Cabul, Kandhar, and all the provinces, as a part 
of Persia, west of the Indus, — which river is known 
to be the geographical though not always the poli- 
tical boundary of India, — he reseated the King of 
Delhi anew upon his throne, giving him much 
salutary advice, and retreated across the Indus, 
never leaving a soldier or retaining a fortified post 
in Hindoostan. Eight years after this event 
Nadir was assassinated at Meshud in Khorassaun, 
and an Avghan, named Ahmed Abdalhee, being 
joined by the Avghan troops in Nadir's service, 
hastily returned to Kandhar, where he seized a great 
treasure on the way frorn India to Persia, and was 
proclaimed King of Avghanistaun by the coalition 
of a few principal chiefs of his native country. 
Ahmed Shah was the first of the Dooraunee 
monarchs. In 1747 he invaded India, defeated 
the Mahrattas, who then overran the Moghul 
empire, and entered Delhi as a conqueror. 

•' It was easy for the victorious Avghan to seat 
himself on the vacant throne of the Moghul, but he 
seems not to have felt any ambition for this high 
dignity. Perhaps he was sensible that amidst such 
a general agitation throughout Hindoostan as then 
prevailed, and with so many nations in arms, such 
an acquisition ivas too distant from Cabul, the centre 
of his dominions, to be retained with advantage. 
Contenting himself with the provinces west of the 
Indus, he quitted in a few months the seat of go- 
vernment, leaving there Alligohur, eldest son of 



AVGHANISTAUN. 91 

Allumgeer the IT., in possession of the empty, but 
still venerated title of Great Moghul, to be the tool 
or become the captive of the first daring chief 
who should seize the capital." 

After this period Hindoostan was relieved from 
foreign invasion. The preparations of Shah Zemaun, 
the grandson of Ahmed, in conjunction with Tippoo 
Sooltaun, for a simultaneous attack upon the English, 
the xlvghans pouring down 100,000 cavalry from 
the north, whilst Tippoo, under the patronage of Na- 
poleon's policy, advanced from the south, terminated 
prematurely. The King of Cabul was distracted by 
rebellions at home, and the invasion of the province 
of Bulkh, which formed a part of his dominion, by 
the King of Bocharah, drew off his attention from 
India, and released the English from the dread of 
this threatened formidable invasion, instigated by 
the intrigues of France and Tippoo. Shah Zemaun 
penetrated into Lahore on several expeditions to 
levy tribute upon that province, which was a reluc- 
tant dependency of his empire. Runjeet'h* Singh 
was then a young adventurer, just commencing 
life, with a thousand mounted retainers at his heels. 
For services rendered on one of these expeditions, 
probably the last. Shah Zemaun conferred upon Run- 
jeet'h the gift of Lahore in feudal tenure. Lahore 
was then in the possession of Runjeet'h's enemies, 
who were too powerful to be immediately dislodged, 
and he was unable to enter into possession, but the 
document gave a claim which circumstances sub- 
sequently enabled him to enforce, and his conquest 
of the city of Lahore laid the foundations of his 

* Rannajeet'h, or King of Lions, 



92 INDIA AND 

future fortunes. When Runjeet'h had partially 
consolidated the Panjab government by the union 
of nnany petty tribes, states, and principalities, he 
frequently made annual predatory demonstrations 
across the Sutledge as far as Sirhind, plundering 
the territories between the river and that frontier of 
the English. In 1809 Sir Charles Metcalfe, by 
order of the British government, made a treaty with 
Runjeet'h, which confined his miUtary operations to 
the right bank of the river Sutledge, but left him at 
liberty to extend his ambitious projects towards the 
territories beyond the Sutledge. 

The late expedition of the English into Avghanis- 
taun has again placed theMoghul empire under the 
dominion of one paramount power. These historical 
references indicate the accessible points of India, 
and they prove that every conqueror who directed 
the march of enterprise against India came from 
the north, estabhshed a military base at Bulkh, and 
advanced by Cabul. 

It is upon Bulkh that all the roads debouch, ad- 
vancing from the south; audit is upon Cabul all 
the passes into India concentrate, advancing from 
the north. Heraut and Kandhar are upon the 
great caravan route from Central Asia to the 
Deccan or South of India. That route, though an- 
nually travelled by commercial adventurers, has less 
frequently been the channel of military operations. 
A part of this route is in the line of indirect com- 
munication between Persia and Cabul, the division 
of it from Heraut to Kandhar : from that city it 
branches off northeast towards Cabul. There is a 
great commercial highway of nations from Con- 
stantinople to Pekin, and from Moscow to Delhi. 



AVGHANISTAUN. 93 

Bulkh is the central or intersecting point upon these 
routes, and has always been the military and poli- 
tical capital of Asia, whether swayed by Persian 
or Greek, by Parthian, Toork, or Moghul. Upon 
this position every strategical operation against 
India must be based to command a fair prospect of 
success and permanent resuhs. 



94 INDIA AND 



CHAPTER VI. 

REFERENCES FROM ENGLISH AUTHORITIES ON THE 
FOREIGN RELATIONS OP BRITISH INDIA. 

The present political condition of the neighbour- 
ing countries surrounding British India, viz. : Be- 
loochislaun, Avghanistaun, Bulkh, Panjab, Nepaul, 
Birmah, and China, and also the foreign relations 
of the Indo-British government, may be readily 
gathered from the annexed copious extracts, the 
issue of the Indian press. The information thus 
elicited will, it is supposed, place in a strong light 
the dubious position of the English in India, and 
their uneasy tenure of the country. 

The anxious fears of the Indian government be- 
fore the result of the expedition to Cabul transpired ; 
the frantic exultation succeeding a state of despon- 
dency when the achievement of an uncontested vic- 
tory gave a transient truce to those well-founded 
terrors ; the thanks of Parliament after the cam- 
paign, strongly indicate the danger which threat- 
ened the empire, even from the far distant rever- 
berations of the rumours of a Russian war. But the 
retreat of the Shah of Persia from Heraut reani- 
mated the quailing English, and respited them from 



AVGHANISTAUN. 95 

those ominous aniicipations, which proved the inde- 
fensible state of British India, and demonstrated the 
easy conquest awaiting a bold and fearless enemy, 
characterized by dexterous policy and diplomatic 
skill. 

Extracts from the Indian press, and other authentic 
English sources, illustrating the foreign relations of 
the British power in India. 

March 29th, 1838.—" The relations between Cal- 
cutta and Ava cannot continue on their present un- 
satisfactory footing. Our attention is so exclusively 
required for the northwest, (that is, Cabul,) where 
the web of political combinations, extending from 
the Panjab to Circassia, appears to grow more 
complicated, that w'e cannot afford to allow any 
insecurity on our eastern boundary. All idea of 
a war, however, for the next six months, is out 
of the question. We shall not a second time, 
commit the incomparable folly of landing an 
army at Rangoon at the commencement of the 
rains, but the next cold season should not be al- 
lowed to pass over, without a decisive effort to 
place our intercourse with Ava upon so satisfactory 
a basis, as to enable us to leave our eastern frontier 
with confidence under the safeguard of our ordi- 
nary troops." 

April 13th. — " It is proposed, by taking up an im- 
posing attitude on our frontiers, to inspire the Bir- 
mese court with a wholesome awe, which may 
repress their hostile intentions. We shall be happy 
to find that these precautionary measures are effi- 
cacious in preventing the horrors of war. No man 
of common humanity would for a moment dream 



96 INDIA AND 

of advocating a war, except as it appeared to be the 
shortest path to a solid and lasting peace. It is said 
that the new king will not commence a war with 
the English, unless some tempting occasion should 
arise. His object is gained for the present, if we 
allow him to banish the resident, to trample on the 
treat V of Yandaboo, and to insult the Governor- 
General with impunity. His future efforts will be 
confined to the disturbance of our frontiers, and to 
such annoyan?,e of our subjects as may weaken their 
confidence in us. He is not perhaps so much in- 
clined for war as his court and the Birmese no- 
bility in general are, but the Birmese, humbled for the 
first time since the days of Alompra, by the treaty 
of Yandaboo, thirst to regain their lost honour. We 
may therefore consider it as not so much probable 
as certain, that whenever we may be engaged in 
hostilities in any part of India, we shall inevi- 
tably have a Birmese war on our hands also. These 
transactions cannot fail to affect our position in Asia. 
For the first time since the battle of Plassey, we 
have received, instead of dictating the law. This 
is the first instance in which a British resident has 
been expelled from a court, the sanctity of treaties 
disregarded, and the authority of the Governor- 
General derided, without being followed by an im- 
mediate declaration of war. We must be cautious 
how we accustom the natives of Asia to the spectacle 
of our degradation. We know, that an intercourse 
has already been opened between Nepaul and Ava ; 
and we should not be surprised to find the example 
which has now been set, literally followed by the 
court of Catmandhoo." 

June 14th. — "In the year 1815, during the war be- 
twixt the Indo-British government and Nepaul, nu- 



AVGHANISTAUN. 97 

merous solicitations had been addressed by the 
Gorkha Rajah to the Emperor of China. We then 
find Umer Singh, the Nepaul miHtary chief, strongly 
recommending to his master to make an urgent ap- 
peal to the court of Pekin for assistance, and submit- 
ting the proposed draft of an address to that effect. 
In this he invokes the active co-operation of the high 
and mighty emperor, on the grounds of the insult 
that had been offered to his supremacy by the 
English, in daring to invade a country owing al- 
legiance to, and enjoying the protection of the 
('hinese government. The attack upon Nepaul is 
declared to be only a preliminary step to the inva- 
sion of Bootan and Thibet, and to securing the 
passes into the frontiers of China. The wealth and 
military resources of the British, the fact of their 
having conquered every prince in the plains, and 
having afterwards seated themselves on the throne 
of the Emperor of Delhi, are duly dwelt upon. In 
conclusion, he points out the readiest means of af- 
fording effective aid to their cause, to be the imme- 
diate advance of a loan of money for the mainte- 
nance of the Gorkha army, and the sending a 
force of 200,000 or 300,000 Chinese troops through 
the Dharma territory, that is, Dargeeling, into 
the lower provinces of Bengal, ' to spread alarm 
and consternation among the Europeans.' ' Con- 
sider,' says he, ' if you abandon your dependants, 
that the English will soon be masters of Lassa.' 

" After the commencement of hostilities, a com- 
munication from the Governor-General, cautioning 
the Chinese, in common with all other neighbour- 
ing states, against aiding or abetting the enemies of 
the British government, reached the Umbas at 
Shigatze, and awakened considerable apprehen- 

7 



98 INDIA AND 

sions in their minds. The original document was 
immediately forwarded to Pekin, and with it an ap- 
plication from the Rajah of Nepaul for assistance 
against the invaders. The Emperor is reported to 
have been highly indignant at the tone and the 
language assumed by the Marquis of Hastings, and 
after listening to the memorial of his officers to have 
exclaimed, ' these English seem to look upon them- 
selves as kings, and upon me as merely one of their 
neighbouring rajahs.' Orders were forthwith issued 
for a commission, composed of a Tseankeun and 
two other Tajin, to proceed under a military escort 
into the vicinity of the seat of war, to institute in- 
quiries ; and an army was ordered to march with 
all speed after them for the protection of the fron- 
tier line. This must have been the force, to whose 
arrival on the confines of the Chinese territories al- 
lusion is made in an official letter from Tytalia, dated 
June 1816. About this time, three Chinese officers, 
who styled themselves the Governors of Arzing, ad- 
dressed a letter to tlie Governor-General of India, 
through the medium of the Sikkim Rajah, a prince 
who was closely connected with the Deb Rajah and 
the Lama of Lassa, who had shown himself a staunch 
ally of the British government. In this address, the 
Chinese officers, after stating the insinuations regard- 
ing the ulterior views of the British government, that 
had been made against them by the Gorkha Rajah, 
proceeded thus : * Such absurd measures appear quite 
inconsistent with the usual wisdom of the British ; it is 
probable they never made the declarations imputed to 
them : if they did, it ivill not he well. An answer 
should be sent, as soon as possible, stating whether 
or not the English ever entertained such absurd pro- 
positions ; if they did not, let them write a suitable 



AVGHANISTAUN. 99 

explanation to the Tseankeun, that he may report to 
the Emperor.' By the same opportunity was re- 
ceived a letter from the Sikkim Rajah, who stated, 
that the Gorkha Rajah had been trying to impose 
on the Cheen Rajah, with a story of the Europeans 
having united with him to attack and conquer Ne- 
paul and China, and this was the sole reason of the 
Cheen (Chinese) Rajah writing to the Governor- 
General. In reply, the Governor-General disclaimed 
any hostile intentions towards China." 

In the treaty of peace which soon followed with 
the Nepaulese, an article was inserted which pro- 
vided for the residence of a British agent at Cat- 
mandhoo, and was with difficulty stomached by the 
Gorkha cabinet ; and it was hoped that the Chinese 
government might be prevailed on to exert them- 
selves to prevent the establishment of European 
influence in their neighbourhood. The following 
narrative of an audience given to the Nepaulese 
Sirdars, who visited Shigatze for the above pur- 
pose, shows clearly enough, that having once got 
rid of their alarm regarding the advance of the 
English troops, the Chinese authorities had now be- 
come mainly solicitous to uphold the honour and 
dignity of their country by stopping the mouths of 
these men, who appealed to them for protection, 
and pointedly inquired what the world would say 
if the Emperor of China should abandon his tribu- 
taries and dependants to their fate 1 The narrative 
proceeds thus : 

Scene— Shigatze ; a garden-house near the city. 
" With the Tseankeun (generalissimo) were the 
two Tajin, seated in chairs, and all the subordinate 
officers of various ranks stood around them, with 
their hands joined before them, as if in the act of sup- 



100 INDIA AND 

plicating. The Nepaulese Sirdars, having previously 
obtained pernnission to be attended by their armed 
escort of 111 nien, proceeded to the residence, 
marching by files in slow order. When they ap- 
proached the Tseankeun, the whole saluted him after 
the Chinese manner, by falling on their knees, from 
which position they arose by an order. During the 
visit, the Chinese brought out a painting containing 
likenesses of several of the old officers of the court 
of Nepaul, and compared them with those present, 
but only found the likeness of one of the chieftains 
now before them," &c. The Nepaulese, entering 
upon the subject of their mission, requested a letter 
to the English that would induce them to quit 
Nepaul. The Chinese rejoined, " You have already 
told us that the English first entered your country 
for the sole purpose of establishing a warehouse 
there, and upon what plea can we attempt to re- 
move merchants, for such people are not molested 
in any country whatever ?" One of the Sirdars 
answered, " If they were merely merchants, it 
would be of no consequence, but they are 
soldiers and commanders, and what connexion 
have troops with merchants ?" The Tseankeun re- 
sumed, " The English have written to inform us 
that they sent their resident with your own con- 
sent ; of what then have you to complain ? As to 
what your rajah stated about the English having 
demanded of him the roads through Bootan, with 
the intention of penetrating into China, it is false ; 
and if they had any such views, they would find 
less circuitous routes." The Sirdars remained 
perfectly silent, and the Tseankeun then addressed 
himself in a strain of irony to Runbeer. " You 
Gorkhas think there are no soldiers in the hills but 



AVGHANISTAUN. 101 

what are in Nepaul. Pray at what do you num- 
ber your fighting men ? and to what amount do 
you collect revenue'? The latter I suppose cannot 
exceed two lacs !" Runbeer replied, that the 
number of the soldiers was about that mentioned 
by the Tseankeun, and that their revenue amounted 
to about five lacs of rupees per annum. " You 
are indeed then," said the Tseankeun, " a mighty 
people," &c. They were dismissed without ac- 
complishing the object of their mission. Unable 
to ward off the infliction of a British resident, and 
unwilling to break off their connexion with the 
Chinese government, the envoys returned to Cat- 
mandhoo little satisfied with their reception, and 
apparently harbouring some vague apprehensions 
of the design of the " Cheen Mah^a Rajah." These 
seem to have been subsequently strengthened, for 
not long after, we find the Nepaulese minister 
applying to the British resident for a promise of 
support in the event of an attack from the Chinese. 
The establishment of a resident, a British officer, 
at the court of a prince who owed allegiance and 
paid homage to the court of China, was a source 
of considerable vexation to them ; the recognition 
of their supremacy was in a manner compromised, 
and they were quite prepared to act on the prayer 
of the Gorkhas, and to use their best endeavours 
to procure the withdrawal of the newly appointed 
resident, provided this could be accomplished with- 
out their committing themselves with the EngHsh, 
or placing their government in a position which 
might on a future day lead to collision. Accord- 
ingly, in the December following, we hear of a 
deputation of fifty Sirdars from the Sikkim Rajah, 
escorting a letter from the Tseankeun and his col- 



102 INDIA AND 

leagues, to the Governor-General, together with a 
box of presents. After stating the high degree of 
satisfaction they had derived from the frank expla- 
nation of the Governor-General, their despatch pro- 
ceeds as follows : 

" His inaperial nnajesty, who, by God's blessing, 
is well informed of the conduct and proceedings of 
all mankind, reflecting on the good faith and wis- 
dom of the English Company, and the firm friend- 
ship and constant commercial intercourse which 
has so long subsisted between the two nations, never 
placed any reliance on the calumnious imputations 
put forward by the Gorkha rajah." The letter con- 
cludes with these words : " You mention that you 
have stationed a vakeel in Nepaul ; this is a matter 
of no consequence, but as the rajah, from his youth 
and inexperience, and from the novelty of the cir- 
cumstance, has imbibed suspicions, if you would, out 
of kindness towards us, and in consideration of the 
ties of friendship, withdraw your vakeel, it would 
be better ; and we should feel inexpressibly grateful 
to you." 

The Governor-General replied by pointing out the 
necessity of stationing an officer at head-quarters, 
who could always be ready to afford explanations 
upon matters which might otherwise lead to mis- 
understanding, and create ill-will. He attributed the 
late war to the absence of such a person, and then 
continued : " The habits of the borderers, both of the 
Nepaulese and the British territory, are rough and 
violent, hence frequent outrages may occur ; but 
if there were stationed at Catmandhoo any accre- 
dited agent of the Emperor of China, to whom 
this government could with confidence recur upon 
all matters of dispute arising between it and the 



AVGHANISTAITN. 103 

Nepaulese, we should be relieved from the necessity 
of keeping a resident there at a considerable expense. 
As the case actually stands, the presence of a British 
officer is the main security we have for avoidino- 
differences ; this officer will be instructed to confine 
himself to the single care of preserving harmony 
between the two states, and to abstain from all other 
interference in the internal or foreign affairs of Ne- 
paul." The last proposition was received with dissa- 
tisfaction ; in reply, " We advert," say they, " to that 
part of your letter which desires us to urge our 
august sovereign, the Emperor of China, to the ap- 
pointment of a minister at Catmandhoo, to whom 
your people and those of Nepaul might refer their 
affairs, and thus prevent disagreements. Be it known 
to you, that the Gorkha Rajah has long been a faithful 
tributary of the Chinese government, and refers him- 
self to it whenever occasion requires. There is there- 
fore no need of deputing any one thither from this 
empire : besides, by the grace and favour of God, his 
majesty, possessing the sovereignty of the whole 
kingdom of China, and other parts, does not enter 
the city of any one without cause. If it so happen 
that his victorious forces take the field, in such case, 
after punishing the refractory, he in his royal cle- 
mency restores the transgressor to his throne. We 
have not thought it bur duty to represent the point 
to the court of China, as the matter in question is 
opposed to the custom of this empire. The fre- 
quenters of the port of Canton, which lies within our 
territory, can inform your lordship that such is not 
the custom of China ; for the future, a proposition 
of this nature, so contrary to usage, should not be 
introduced into a friendly despatch." 

June 21st. " The contemplation of the anomalous 



104 INDIA AND 

nature of our government, the entire absence of all 
community and identity of interests between the 
government and its subjects, cannot fail to create 
impressions, calculated to convince the most scep- 
tical mind, that our existence depends exclusively 
upon the character of our rule, and the energy of 
our measures. So far as the first is concerned, it is 
of so mixed a nature, having so much to elicit feel- 
ings of unthankfulness and a desire for change in 
the minds of our subjects generally, that it becomes 
a perplexing and difficult matter to decide whether 
the great mass of the people would derive benefit or 
sustain injury by our removal. The evil that exists 
under the exclusive nature of our system is prolific 
in engendering every feeling prompting to desire a 
change. The consequence is, that restlessness, dis- 
content, and a desire for change may be considered 
to pervade the whole extent of our dominion, from 
the Sutledge to the sea, and from the Indus to the 
Berhampooter, whilst beyond these limits we are 
looked upon with strong feelings of envy, distrust, 
and apprehension. Hence we may fairly infer, that 
the internal and external feeling bear that affinity 
towards each other which would readily subdue 
every obstacle tending to prevent the coalescence 
of our enemies and our subjects for the subversion 
of our power." 

Monday, June 18th. — " An envoy from the Ne- 
paulese court, Runbeer Singh, passed through La- 
hore on his way to Kandahar." 

August 30th. — " Upon the question of encamping 
a British army at Cabul — of extending our boundary 
not to, but beyond the Indus — we have not sufficiently 
recovered from our surprise at the boldness of the 
step to be able to look at it with calm consideration. 



AVGHANISTAUN. 105 

If we proceed to Cabul, we must maintain ourselves 
there. We cannot afford a retrograde movement 
through any emergency of circumstances. If we 
are forced to recede one step, we must recede two, 
and so on till the mighty spirit which overspreads 
India, shrinks back to the narrow dimensions of the 
barrel, and the empire is reduced to its original ele- 
ment of a factory. At Cabul we must be every thing 
or nothing. In no transaction in which we mingle 
in India can we any longer act a secondary part. 
Are we prepared for that extension of our con- 
nections which shall enable us to keep due watch and 
ward at the gate of India ? We have not the Indus 
for our boundary, and yet we seem about to involve 
ourselves in a world of new combinations and in- 
trigues beyond that limit, with the Panjab in our 
rear, more consolidated than any native power since 
the days of Hyder, and with two unsubdued hollow 
allies on our northern and eastern frontier to take 
advantage of the first embarrassment to pour a 
stream of desolation on our provinces." 

October 25th. — " The real object of the present 
expedition is to establish a lasting barrier against 
hostile intrigue and aggression by the military oc- 
cupation of Cabul ; that is, to baffle the intrigues 
and arrest the aggression of Russia, and to antici- 
pate her views by the extension of British influence 
in Central Asia. The necessity of this movement is 
indicated by the ill-concealed designs of our real 
opponent. 

" When we look at the strides which our power 
has taken in India we draw back with astonishment. 
It is but eighty-two years since our only possession 
in Bengal consisted of a miserable fortification, 
garrisoned by seventy European soldiers. Now 
the army of the Bengal Presidency is about to 



106 INDIA AND 

cross the Indus to establish the just influence of the 
British government upon a proper footing, amongst 
the nations of Central Asia. Ii is only eighty years 
since Clive, havino- recovered that fortification, and 
after having given the English anew a local habita- 
tion and a name in Bengal, uttered this memorable 
sentence : ' We cannot stop here, we must go for- 
ward!' — and forward indeed we have gone, year 
after year, east, west, norih, and south, till in the year 
1838, the safety of our empire in India demands that 
an army should march five hundred miles beyond the 
Indus to raise the siege of Herat'h !" 

November 22d. — " We must be in possession of 
Rangoon and all Pegue before the first of May 
next." 

" There are other considerations besides the de- 
fence of the provinces exposed to Birmese invasion, 
which must go to the formation of a correct judg- 
ment on this subject. We know that the publica- 
tion through the Durpun* (for a copy of which the 
court of Catmandhoo subscribes,) of the contempt 
with which the English have been treated from 
time to time by the Chinese authorities at Canton, 
has produced a very unfavourable impression on the 
minds of the Nepaulese, and led them to believe 
that we are not after all the first power in Asia. 
In a higher degree must the conduct of the Bir- 
mese court towards us, if it be not apologized for 
or resented, contribute to shake that empire of 
opinion which we hold in India. The safety of 
the empire demands that we should vindicate our 
honour, by pacific means if possible, but still that 
we should vindicate our honour from those insults, 
which are offered only under the idea that our 

* A native paper. 



AVGHANISTAUN. 107 

empire has passed its prime, and that our sun is 
setting in the East." 

November 22d. — " It may be doubted if at any 
time since we took possession of territory in India, 
such deep and dangerous disaffection has prevailed 
as exists at present. Our unsparing taxation, our 
long continued and augmenting exhaustion of the 
resources of the country, our resumptions of rent- 
free lands, our reduction of establishments and of 
public expenditure, our schemes of conversion under 
the mask of education and the pretext of non-inter- 
ference with religious ceremonials, have spread 
and are spreading throughout India universal alarm 
and discontent. The political horizon is equally 
overcast. Both on the west and the east, the faint 
flashes of an approaching tempest have already 
been displayed, and if the storm once burst on 
either quarter, it will immediately fall upon us with 
fury from the other. Engaged in hostilities with 
Persia backed by Russia; with Ava, which has 
already insulted us ; and with Nepaul, preparing, if 
report be true, most vigorously, to recover its lost 
power and possessions, we shall soon be entangled 
in a plentiful crop of domestic embarrassments, 
sown by our own blindness, faithlessness, and fanati- 
cism. This is not the language of an alarmist ; it is 
prompted by the contemplation of our proceedings 
in India, and by authentic information from the 
natives themselves of the sentiments which they 
entertain ; it is the language also of five out of six 
of the Company's servants, who have recently re- 
turned from India — of men who have used the 
opportunities which they enjoyed of observing the 
signs of the times ; it is the language of all who 
are capable of connecting causes and consequences, 



108 INDIA AND 

and who know that insidiousness begets suspicion, 
and that intolerance engenders hate." 

November 29th. — *' What is now to be done? Shall 
we proceed onward and secure the key of India, or 
leave our frontiers exposed to the designs which 
have been so unequivocally developed during the 
present year, and which the prophetic genius of 
Napoleon predicted twenty-five years ago? It is 
clear beyond a doubt that after the demonstrations 
which have been made this year in Central Asia, our 
possessions are not safe while the passes of Cabul 
are in possession of a power whose hostility has been 
unreservedly manifested towards us. 

"The course of political intrigue, of which Herat'h 
was only the index, seems to force upon us the folicy 
of still moving forward if we would not shrink back 
to the limits of a factory." 

December 20th. — " The Jami Jehan Noma is a 
native paper, taken in by most of the native chiefs of 
India. It is frequently full of treasonable remarks. 
In the number for November 4th, 1838, it was men- 
tioned that * The Mussulmen of Cabul had assembled 
to the number of 400,000 and were about to invade 
Hindostan, and that the English army destined for 
the conquest of Cabul had been assembled at 
Loodiana, and would march in a few days. The 
resident of Dehly was further reported in this 
paper to have remitted the tribute due from several 
rajahs, and to have got them to sign several new 
articles by way of treaty.' 

"When the rajah heard this he observed, that the 
English gentlemen must be in great alarm and trepi- 
dation at the overwhelming numbers of the Shah of 
Cabul, since it has come to this pass that they were 
now remitting their claims of annual tribute, and 



AVGHANISTAUN. 109 

entering into new treaties. Some of the people in 
the city and elsewhere observed, that the people of 
Hindoosthan were ever given to oppose established 
authority; and if the Jami Jelian JVoma, which was 
taken in by most chiefs of Hindoosthan should give 
such versions of the force and people of Cabul. and 
of the expedition to that place, the chiefs of Hin- 
doosthan and its ignorant people would, on hearing 
such exaggerated statements,/ee/5^/// more inclined to 
witfidrawfrom their allegiance and former contracts," 
&c. &c. 

March 14th, 1839.—" A Persian army laid siege to 
Herat'h with the avowed intention of marching into 
India, and the approach of Russian influence, like that 
of a portentous comet, began to disturb all the rela- 
tions of our Indian empire." 

Blackwood's Magazine, Dec. 1838. — "We have 
reduced the European force which in 1827 was 
33,000, to twenty-five regiments, mustering little more 
than 19,000 men, and the native army which, in the 
former year, was 260,000 to 155,000. All this we 
have done in the full knowledge of the truth, em- 
phatically impressed upon our government by our 
greatest commanders in India, even at the moment of 
the most signal triumphs, that without an adequate 
proportion of European troops, which should never 
be less than a third or a fourth of that of the soldiers 
(native), it was impossible to expect success in 
India ; and that our empire in the East, on the appear- 
ance of the first European power, would be seriously 
endangered. Forgetting that there can be no in- 
herent loyalty in a black Mussulman, or Hindoo, to 
a white Christian and distant crown, we have done 
rnuch to dissolve the firm bond of union that has 
hitherto held us together — that of permanent self- 



110 INDIA AND 

interest. Influenced by a blind and false spirit of 
economy, the Indian government has successively 
reduced the allowances, retired pensions, and other 
advantages accruing to the officers, European and 
native, as well as privates of the native army, so that 
not only has the attachment of these actually in the 
ranks been seriously injured and weakened, but the 
disposition to enlist under British colours throughout 
the whole peninsula, been chilled and discouraged to 
a most alarming degree. 

" The way in which it was all along foreseen 
Russia would act, would be, to go on step by step, 
consolidating her power by successive acquisitions, 
and taking care always to precede her legions by 
subsidiary treaties and alliances, which might enable 
her to march through all the intervening country as 
through her own dominions, and pour at last with 
an accumulating force on the northern provinces of 
Hindoost'han. It is in vain to say that it is impossi- 
ble for the Russian troops to march down from 
Russia to India, when the British troops are prepar- 
ing to march from Delhi and Agra to Cahul and 
Candahar, a distance of two thousand miles. When 
our troops arrive in those regions, they will have 
gone more than half way from Calcutta to the 
shores of the Caspian, from which the Russian troops 
have to set out. They are setting out avowedly to 
anticipate the Russians in the possession of Cabul, and 
in all probability to assist the Shah of Herat'h in his 
resistance to the Russian guile and Persian forces." 

Tuesday, May 2d, 1839.— "There can be no doubt 
that the dangers which have called the army of the 
Indus into the field are altogether without precedent 
since we first planted our standard in India. On 
every previous occasion our difficulties arose from 



AVGHANISTAUN. 1 1 1 

combinations within the Indus ; at the present crisis 
we are threatened with invasion by a conjunction of 
powers beyond that river, organized by a great 
European power of vast resources. Emissaries 
have been dihgently employed through the length 
and breadth of Hindoostan, in sowing the seeds of 
disaffection among our own subjects, in rousing to 
hostility the minds of our subordinate allies, and in 
turning the eyes of India to the grand expedition as 
coming down from the west to put an end to our 
empire. These circumstances of unexampled diffi- 
culty called for instantaneous action, and for the adop- 
tion of a new and original plan of policy," &c. &c. 

"If the dangers which threatened the empire had 
been imaginary, if they had even been exaggerated, 
there might have been some ground for censuring an 
expedition which involved us in the web of Avghan 
politics. But the dangers ivere palpable and immi- 
nent" &LC. " Russia would have been on the banks 
of the Indus with all the rabble of Western Asia at her 
heels. The Seiks, already endowed with a military 
education rather advanced, are too powerful to agree 
to their becoming docile instruments to the East 
India Company ; and the proof of the spirit ihat ani- 
mates them is the news recently brought, that the 
passage of the Panjab has been refused to the Eng- 
lish. The alliance of the English with the aged 
Maha Rajah, can only be looked on as a forced 
alliance, destined to be broken as soon as a rupture 
can take place without compromising the safety of 
the empire of Runjeet'h Singh. In the interior of 
India the English have before them none but a hos- 
tile population, which support with impatience a 
foreign yoke : the people have gained nothing by the 
English occupation of the country. National Indus- 



112 INDIA AND 

try has been completely ruined ; the inferior classes 
are impoverished by the effort of the EngHsh, whose 
machinery excludes all competition," &c. — Augs- 
burg Gazette of 24th of January. 

July 11. — " When the accredited agent of Russia 
was at our gates, and the most vaunting reports 
were industriously spread that the hordes of Central 
Asia were marshalled by Russia, and were about to 
pour down on the plains of India, and when these 
boasts had begun materially to shake the confidence 
of the subsidiary chiefs throughout India, it was 
time to make some demonstration." 

July 18. — " If any doubt had ever been entertained 
of the ambitious projects of Russia, in reference to 
the East, they must be at once dispelled by a perusal 
of the last note of that court. In it Russia assumes 
to have an equal interest with England in the affairs 
of Avghanistaun ; after having herself so far inter- 
fered with this state, lying at so great a distance 
from her frontier, as to guarantee the transfer of 
Herath to the Kandahar chiefs, calls upon England 
to avoid all interference with it, though it lies upon 
our border; and its emissaries have endeavoured to 
spread disaff^ection through our empire. We can 
all remember the electrical effect produced on all 
minds and all interests by the raising of the siege, 
and the retirement of the Persian army. The funds 
rose four per cent ! The march to Cabul appears 
now to have been a measure indispensably neces- 
sary to the security of the British empire in the East." 

October 31st. — The Kurnoul Conspiracy. — "The 
capture of Kurnoul has brought to light a conspiracy 
against the British government which may well fill 
the mind with astonishment. Kurnoul is a state 
under the Madras Presidency, of small dimensions 



AVGHANISTAUN. 113 

and limited revenues, the only remaining indepen- 
dent Mahomedan principality in the south. In 
consequence of information of treasonable prepa- 
rations, the British troops were sent ; the fort was 
occupied without opposition, and presented nothing 
beyond the ordinary means of defence. Upon more 
minute investigation, however, the zennanah or fe- 
male apartments, were found to contain between 
four and five hundred pieces of ordnance, chiefly of 
brass, some concealed under ground, others immured 
in walled-up chambers, together with whatever was 
necessary for the most extensive military operations. 
One hundred pieces of ordnance were mounted and 
ready for action. Some of them had been cast in 
forms of surpassing beauty and exactness. The 
zennanah likewise contained many furnaces, some 
of which had been recently worked. All their pre- 
parations, so far beyond the resources of this petty 
state, and the intellect of its chief, manifest une- 
quivocally a wide-spread conspiracy to annihilate 
the British authority in the south. In the silence 
and secrecy of the zennanah, shielded from intrusion 
by the inviolability of its character, have the dark 
designs of this combination been carried forward. 
The cannon, according to the description given, 
must have been cast under European superinten- 
dence. The expenses of these warUke preparations 
must have been furnished by more powerful agents; 
the contrivance and execution of this vast plan, in 
impenetrable obscurity, though under the very eye 
of government, must have been managed by wiser 
heads and deeper politicians than the foolish rajah^ 
who is now a prisoner to his own troops, through 
having suffered their allowances to run into arrears. 
It is for government to unravel the ramifications, 

8 



114 INDIA AND 

and trace the origin of a plot, which would proba- 
bly have been consummated as soon as the Madras 
Presidency had been deprived of its strength by the 
despatch of an army to the Birmese empire. 

" The discoveries have been almost exclusively 
confined to the nawaub's zennanah, which proves to 
be a perfect arsenal on a most extended scale ; and 
you will stare to read that there have been found 
concealed in various ways, underground and in 
godowns whose doors and entrances had been built 
up, between four and five hundred pieces of artil- 
lery, of which fully one hundred are in such a state 
of equipment as to be ready for active service in the 
field at a few days' warning, <fec. &c. &c. When 
we consider that this really gigantic magazine, 
from which the implements for the destruction of 
our empire were to have sprung, has been collecting 
and increasing daily in strength and extent, almost 
in the very heart of our dominions, in a manner so 
stealthy as to have been scarcely suspected by the 
government and their authorities, we are lost in 
astonishment at the extent and power of the re- 
sources which have furnished the means to dig so 
tremendous a mine beneath our feet, and in wonder 
and conjecture as to the time and the agents to be 
chosen or created for its explosion, &c. It only 
required the hand to the plough to burst with 
astounding fury over southern India."* 

* The Kurnoul Rajah, when under the surveillance of the British 
government, was stabbed to death by one of his own followers 
whilst in attendance at an English church. There was a report 
that he intended to become a Christian, w^hich was the pretext of 
his murder, although a well-founded suspicion exists that he was 
murdered to prevent disclosures. 



AVGHANISTAUN. 115 

Extract from the debate in the House of Commons on 
the motion for a vote of thanks to the army of the 
Indus. 

Mr. Macaulay. — " During his residence in India 
frequent opportunities were presented to him of 
seeing evidence of the restless and unquiet feeling 
which prevailed, not only amongst our own subjects, 
not only amongst the subjects of neighbouring states, 
but amongst the people under the dominion of our 
subsidiary allies. In every quarter, in Nepaul, in 
Ava" (and Lahore), *' change was contemplated 
with confident expectation, he may say by some 
antir,ipated with earnest hope. Military stores were 
collected, defences were raised, resources and trea- 
sures were husbanded, and in every direction a 
feeling was excited which must have terminated in 
the greatest calamities, were it not for the results 
which attended the wise government of Lord Auck- 
land, and the brilliant achievements of the army 
under Lord Keane. He fully believed that had it 
not been for the triumphant consequences of the late 
campaign — accomplished as its triumphs were with 
a rapidity of which no previous example could be 
found, — he believed that had it not been for the 
valour, skill, and foresight of the officers, and for 
the unequalled bravery of the troops under their 
command, the security of our Indian possessions 
would have been very seriously impaired. Keeping 
these considerations in view, and assuming them to 
be facts beyond the possibility of question, he must 
be permitted to say that, how^ever great might be 
the number of camp followers, however vast the 
supply of camels which attended the march of the 



116 INDIA AND 

army, the right honourable baronet opposite would 
not think the expense useless when he recollected 
the advantages which it had procured. — February 
6th, 1840." — The expense here alluded to, I have 
understood from the mouth of Sir Alexander 
Burnes, the second functionary at Cabul in the 
civil employment of ihe Indian government, to 
have been, up to the period of the Shah Shujah ul 
Moolk's entrance into Cabul on the 7th of August 
1839, two crores and a half of rupees, (two millions 
five hundred thousand pounds sterling.) The number 
of camels accompanying the army was, on the same 
authority thirty-five thousand head. It appears the 
whole number of souls comprised in the expedition 
when the army arrived at Quetta (Shawl and Must- 
ing,) amounted to eighty thousand.* The unques- 
tionable dangers referred to by Mr. Macauley, it 
will be observed were and are of a local nature 
exclusively. How will these dangers be increased ; 
to what certainty will they be reduced by the belli- 
gerent attitude of a great foreign power, a power 
sufficient of itself to contend with and subdue the 
resources of the Indian empire, though united and 
concentrated, and not, as Mr. Macauley observes, 
" restless and unquiet, anticipating and expecting 
with earnest hope, a change of rulers !" 

* Calcutta journals, official returns. 



AVGHANISTAUN. 117 



CHAPTER VII. 

DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTER OF DOST MAHOMED EX-AMEER 

OF CABUL. 

The Ameer Dost Mahomed, son of Sir Uffraz, 
Paienda Khan Barikzye, is of high descent amongst 
the Avghans, and claims a natural equality with the 
tribe of Suddoozye, from which the Dooraunee 
king is selected. But this circumstance of royal 
precedence gives the Suddoozye tribe a political 
superiority. I believe he was born near Djillalabad, 
although I have heard his nativity ascribed to 
Kandhar, in 1793. By an honorary or devotional 
vow of his mother he was consecrated to the lowest 
menial service of the sacred cenotaph of Lamech, 
a place of sanctity for the resort of pious Mahome- 
dans near Djillalabad (or Ningrahar). This cenotaph 
is known in the colloquial dialect of the country by 
the appellation of Meiter Lam. In conformity with 
the maternal vow, when the young aspirant became 
capable of wielding a brush, he was carried to 
Meiter Lam by his mother, and instructed to 
exonerate her from the consequences of a sacred 
obligation, by sweeping, for the period of a whole 
day, the votive area included within the precincts of 



118 INDIA AND 

the holy space enclosing the alleged tomb of the 
antediluvian, the father, as he is termed, of the pro- 
phet Noah ! Very little attention was paid in early 
life to develope the natural faculties of his mind by 
artificial means. He was the protege of experience 
and necessity, and those impartial and inexorable 
tutors were the constant mentors of this child, as 
they are of all who successfully climb the ladder of 
ambition. His mother was of the Kizzlebashe 
tribe, which forms the mercenary imperial guard of 
Persian origin. They are similar to the late janissa- 
ries of Turkey, and though denominated slaves, 
were of praetorian dignity and power ; they are 
also called "Jowan share," which is the Persian for 
*' young lion," and has the same signification as 
" Yeugi cherri," the Toorkey for "janissary." 

Amongst the descendants of the high-born ladies 
of the Dooraunee race he was subject to be slighted ; 
and he, together with an elder brother labouring under 
similar natal inferiority, were excluded by the more 
fortunate brethren as an ignoble scion of paternal 
liaison. The father of Dost Mahomed had twenty- 
one sons, all of whom, grew up to man's estate, and 
were individuals of character, property, and influ- 
ence. Dost Mahomed very early in life chose the 
profession of a soldier, or rather the idleness conse- 
quent on the disqualifications of birth gave him full 
leisure to indulge the tendency of his genius, and he 
attached himself, in the character of pesh khidmut, 
or personal attendant, to his eldest brother, the Vizier 
Futty Khan. The versatile and romantic history 
of this chivalric warrior afforded his young atten- 
dant frequent opportunities of distinguishing himself; 
and an act of deliberate murder, when about four- 
teen years of age, was the first circumstance which 



AVGHANISTAUN. 119 

attracted the vizier's attention towards him, and 
pointed him out as a man of bold and daring enter- 
prise. 

The vizier, annoyed, disgusted, and perhaps inti- 
midated by the proximity of an enemy, expressed a 
wish inimical to his personal safety in the presence 
of Dost Mahomed, about the time of leaving his 
public levee. The obnoxious individual, at the mo- 
ment the young man egressed from the durbar, 
unwittingly passed on horseback. Our young sol- 
dier was also en cavalier, and armed with a rifle. 
They came face to face in the public street of 
Peshour, and in a moment the youth shot his bro- 
ther's enemy, in the midst of a numerous body of 
clansmen. He fled to the vizier with the news, 
assuring him of the death of his rival. The protec- 
tion of his brother, who then possessed the uncon- 
trolled ministerial power under the confiding and 
voluptuous Shah Mahmoud, and exercised para- 
mount authority over the Avghan tribes, was suffi- 
cient to shield him from the consequences of the 
" lex talionis," and guaranteed an immunity against 
that vindictive passion which is so eminently cha- 
racteristic of the Avghan race. 

The adventurous life of a Khorassannee cavalier 
early opened the way to his acquisition of the 
essential qualifications for a military leader, and his 
capacious mind and tractability of temper rewarded 
the anxious anticipations of maternal care with the 
alluring prospect of future political supremacy. At 
the age of sixteen he was eminent for personal 
bravery, recklessness, and the juvenile and martial 
accomplishments of a good horseman, a fair shot 
with the rifle, and an expert spearsman in the 
national equestrian exercise of the " Ishpillak," 
Previous to the sanguinary service alluded to 



120 INDIA AND 

above, he was a neglected attache at the levee of 
his elder brother; and there are still some remini- 
scences which represent his moral character at that 
youthful period in an unfavourable light. To those 
acquainted with the vicious habits of Nawaub Sem- 
mund Khan (another brother of Dost Mahomed, 
many years older than himself), it may only be 
necessary to say, that the young aspirant was some 
time amongst the most beautiful of all the juvenile 
attendants who were a disgrace to the domestic 
establishment of that licentious devotee of Avghan 
debauchery : so little was his fraternity regarded 
by the highborn sons of Sir Affraz Khan. After 
that exertion of a determined spirit, which pleaded 
for the vizier's personal favour, he was no longer 
found amongst the forlorn " delici^" at the indiscri- 
minating orgies of the sensual and unfraternal Na- 
waub. He was employed by the vizier to settle the 
affairs of the Kohdamun at an early age, and the 
government of that insubordinate and treacherous 
part of the Avghan population was entrusted to 
him, whose recklessness gave assurance of success, 
where a bloody system of private revenge, indulged 
with quickness, avidity, and asperity, had become 
incorporated with the habits of an irascible and 
capricious people. He played with them at their 
own game, upon what would now be considered 
the homoeopathic plan, and in the end attained a 
character for perfidy not surpassed by any Avghan 
within our notice, and quite equal to the most de- 
spotic vagaries of the ancient Persian princes. All 
the refractory chiefs of the Kohistaun, (the remote 
mountainous district within the jurisdiction of the 
city of Cabul, or metropolitan vicinage,) were one 
after another destroyed by encouraging internal 



AVGHANISTAUN. 121 

warfare. Their family feuds were exasperated, 
and the system of revenge was carried out to an 
awful extent — often to the extermination of all the 
objects of jealousy which wealth, respectability, or 
political power brought within the discriminating 
view of a rapacious eye. In short. Dost Mahomed, 
when a mere boy, gained the reputation of an ex- 
pert diplomatist amongst the Avghans ; a character 
which Machiavel might have studied with the cer- 
tainty of scientific improvement ! 

With the Ameer the end justified the means. 
His political enemies were made the victims of 
confidence — inveigled into his power by a series of 
sacred asseverations, and their lives extinguished 
without reluctance or compunction. 

On the death of Mahomed Azeem Khan, the full 
brother of Vizier Futty Khan, who had been pre- 
viously literally chopped to pieces alive, limb by 
limb, by order of Kameran Mirza, the son of Mah- 
mood Shah, the sovereignity of Cabul fell into the 
hereditary possession of Hubeeb Ullah Khan, Ma- 
homed Azeem's eldest son. His barbarity and 
recklessness soon induced the chiefs of the country 
to turn their attention towards Dost Mahomed as a 
more manageable leader than Hubeeb Ullah. His 
debauchery and dissolute life presented him to their 
view as an individual who w^ould readily receive 
the dictation of their order ; and he was called to 
the paramount power of government by the unani- 
mous voice of all the feudal lords, supported by the 
popular voice of the citizens of Cabul, which 
capital always exercised a great metropolitan in- 
fluence in the general politics of the country at 
large. The day Dost Mahomed ascended the 
Musnud he performed the " Toba," which is a 



122 INDIA AND 

solemn and sacred formula of reformation, in refe- 
rence to any accustomed moral crime or depravity 
of habit. He was followed in the Toba by all his 
chiefs, who found themselves obliged to keep pace 
with the march of mind — to prepare for the defen- 
sive system of policy this assumption of purity on 
the part of the prince suggested. The Toba was 
a sort of declaration of principles ; and the chiefs 
viewing it in that light, beheld their hopes of 
supremacy in imminent hazard. Thus a subject of 
jealousy, and the germ of dissolution, inherent even 
in the most perfect forms of government, were 
here implanted at the constitution of the oligarchy. 
Many years subsequent to this period, when Dost 
Mahomed introduced the European discipline into 
a part of his army, the measure was suggested by 
the ambition to relieve himself from the irksome- 
ness of surveillance, — the suspicions of his chiefs 
were confirmed, their motives to resistance deter- 
mined; and the necessity of self-defence dictated a 
coalition with the King Shujah Ul Moolk and his 
English co-operatives, when they invaded Avghan- 
istaun. 

In later life the Ameer became sensible of the ad- 
vantages arising from learning. Although knowledge 
of literature amongst Mahomedan nations is confined 
to a contracted sphere, at least the reputation of theo- 
logical science was essential to the chief upon whom 
had been conferred the title of Ameer Ul Momineen, 
or commander of the faithful. To escape the humility 
of dependence upon subordinate agents, more espe- 
cially the secretaries necessarily employed in all 
revenue and judicial transactions, he tasked his 
mind with the acquisition of letters, and became 
worthy, by his industry and success in the pursuit, 



AVGHANISTAUN. 123 

of the respect of the great, as he commanded the 
admiration of the vulgar, who are ever accustomed 
to venerate the divinity of wisdom. 

In 1833 Shah Shujah, who had been thirty years 
an exile, during the greater part of which period 
he resided at Loodiannah, and was a stipendiary of 
the British government, attempted the recovery of 
his throne. His majesty concentrated his forces at 
Kandhar. Dost Mahomed advanced from Cabul 
to raise the siege of that metropolis, in which design 
he succeeded in the spring of 1834. The king was 
defeated, and the chiefs of Cabul insisted upon the 
measure of constituting their prince " Ameer," and 
his highness consequently was wrought up to the 
ambition of an alluring title, that exalted him con- 
spicuously above his contemporaries and coadjutors; 
and the commemoration of victory by the ascent 
of dignity covered the object of its consecration 
with the mantle of glory. 

The title of Ameer is simply political ; but as 
politics always forms a part of the religion of 
Mahomedans, the prince's flatterers soon added to 
the semi-royal distinction "Ul Momineen," and he 
became, in colloquial acceptation, " commander 
of the faithful," as they euphoniously style the 
Khulleefa or Calif of the Mahomedan world. The 
coin of Cabul, which, since the change of dynasty 
had been struck in the name of " Saheb i Zeman," 
which is incognito or innominally " ruler of the day 
or the time then passing," was now impressed with 
the cognizance of " Ameer Dost Mahomed, by the 
grace of God." The word " ghazee, or fighter of the 
faith," was also added, which is the enviable and 
ever-desirable cognomen of Mahomedan princes, 
as the most acceptable passport to apottieosis. 



124 INDIA AND 

Simultaneously with the battle of Kandhar, Run- 
jeet'h Singh, Prince of the Panjab, crossed the Indus 
with designs of conquest, and seized on Peshour, 
which is one of the capital cities of Avghanistaun. 

To remain at rest and apparently unmolested by 
a conquest of the Seiks encroaching so fearfully 
upon his natural territory, although the jurisdiction 
of Peshour had been under the government of a 
brother who acknowledged no control, was unbe- 
coming the character of the Ameer; and the pre- 
text of a religious war, which is at any time 
capable of bringing around the Prince's standard 
swarms and hordes of religious fanatics, enthusiasts 
and bigots, was promulgated against Runjeet'h and 
his infidel Seiks ; and the Ameer ul Momineen 
appeared on the plain of Peshour with fifty thou- 
sand belligerent candidates for martyrdom and 
immortality. Savages from the remotest recesses 
of the mountainous districts, who were dignified 
with the profession of the Mahomedan faith, many 
of them giants in form and strength, promiscuously 
armed with sword and shield, bows and arrows, 
matchlocks, rifles, spears, and blunderbusses, con- 
centrated themselves around the standard of re- 
ligion, and were prepared to slay, plunder, and 
destroy for the sake of God and the Prophet, the 
unenlightened infidels of the Panjab. In this expe- 
dition the Ameer was not attended with success : 
the diplomacy of his rival* made him withdraw 

* On the occasion of Dost Mahomed's visit to Peshour, which 
occurred during the period of my service with Runjeet'h Singh, 
I was despatched by this Prince as ambassador to the Ameer. I 
divided his brothers against him, exciting their jealousy of his 
growing power, and exasperating the family feuds, with which from 
my previous acquaintance I was familiar, and stirred up the feudal 



AVGHANISTAUN. 125 

without a battle ; and retreating to Cabul he re- 
sumed, until another opportunity should occur, the 
pacific administration of his government. But the 
assumption of the title of Ameer ul Momineen 
pledged him to a system of perpetual hostility with 
the infidels in his vicinity, although the ambitious 
tendency of that aggressive position was not sus- 
tained by the acquisition of additional resources for 
the maintenance of his new pretensions. 

The Ameer pursued his literary labours, and 
completed the task of reading the Koran after two 
years' appHcation, familiarizing his efforts by a re- 
petition of his toil until the performance had been 
twice accomplished. By this means he acquired a 
knowledge of letters that enabled him to give his 
personal attention to some of the most important 
addresses and petitions occasionally preferred by 
the necessitous, and was freed in a great measure 
from the strict tutelage of the Kizzlebashe chiefs, 
represented at his court by the Mirzas, who were 
all to a man of that persuasion, and constituted by 

lords of his durbar, with the prospect of pecuniary advantages. I 
induced his brother, Sooltaun Mahomed Khan, the lately deposed 
chief of Peshour, with 10,000 retainers, to withdraw suddenly 
from his camp about nightfall. The chief accompanied me towards 
the Seik camp, whilst his followers fled to their mountain fast- 
nesses. So large a body retiring from the Ameer's control in 
opposition to his will, and without previous intimation, threw 
the general camp into inextricable confusion, which terminated in 
the clandestine rout of his forces, without beat of drum, or sound 
of bugle or the trumpet's blast, in the quiet stillness of mid- 
night. At daybreak no vestige of the Avghan camp was seen, 
where, six hours before, 50,000 men and 10,000 horses, with all 
the busy host of attendants, were rife with the tumult of wild 
commotion. An elaborate account of this diplomatic mission from 
the Prince of the Panjab to the Ameer of Cabul, will be minutely 
related in my forthcoming personal journal. 



126 INDIA AND 

their " esprit de corps" a formidable phalanx 
amongst the functionaries of the Ameer's durbar. 

The Ameer is now forty-nine years of age and 
in vigorous health. When he stands erect his height 
is six feet, but there is a slight stoop in the neck 
arising from a rounded contour of the shoulders, 
characteristic of his family, which militates against 
the commanding appearance his person is otherwise 
formed to impress when animated by conversation 
or excited by passion. He has large features and a 
muscular frame ; a heavy tread in his walk, placing 
the sole of his foot all at once flat upon the ground, 
which indicates that the instep is not well arched. 
The outline -of his face is Roman. Having a curved 
jaw, a low retreating forehead, hair of the head 
shaven, and the turban worn far back, gives an 
appearance of elevation to the frontal region, al- 
though the facial angle is scarcely less acute than 
in some of the higher orders of simicB. The nose 
is aquiline, high, and rather long, and finished with 
beautiful delicacy; the brow open, arched, and pen- 
cilled ; the eyes are hazel-gray, not large, and of 
an elephantine expression ; the mouth large and 
vulgar and full of bad teeth ; the lips moderately 
thick ; ears large. The shape of the face is oval, 
rather broad across the cheeks, and the chin covered 
with a full strong beard, originally black, now 
mixed with gray hairs. This appendage is dyed 
once a week, that is, on Thursday morning, in the 
process of general ablution in the hummaum or 
warm bath. To this usage all respectable Maho- 
medans are accustomed preparatory to the seventh 
day's appropriation of a period for public worship, 
which is Friday, commencing with Thursday at 12 
o'clock and terminating at the last prayer on Friday 



AVGHANISTAITN. 127 

evening, or to 12 o'clock at night. His dress is 
unaffected and plain, being made of various mate- 
rials, in conformity with the season. The kubbah or 
frock, is, according to the Persian fashion, cut low 
before the breast to display the p'heron or shirt, 
which is usually of red or crimson silk from Heraut'h. 
The choga (or toga) he wore was a large flowing 
robe, with very capacious sleeves tightened at the 
wrists. In summer the material of the under dress 
is white longcloth, bordered along the margins on 
the inner side with a stripe two inches deep of 
flowered chintz, manufactured in Cabul. The choga 
of a sprig pattern, or pine-flowered European chintz, 
English or German. In winter he wore silk, com- 
monly satin, lightly wadded and closely quilted ; 
colour, green or yellow. The sleeves of the kubbah 
are provided with loops, and may be opened or 
closed along the lower seam as far as the elbow 
from the wrists, and fit tight to the arm when the 
loops are laced. When open they hang like a long 
piece of drapery from the elbow. The seams are 
all run with gold cord, about the calibre of a crow- 
quill ; gold lace, an inch broad, decorates the edges 
of the open breast ; and the shoulders and middle of 
the arms, and the back between the shoulders, are 
embellished with gold embroidery in floral devices. 
The choga in winter is made of English broadcloth ; 
olive brown was a favourite colour; the seams 
braided with silk cord, and the edges run with an ex- 
tremely narrow tape, all of the same sombre hue as 
the garment ; and it was also decorated with embroi- 
dery similar to the Ivubbah, but in silk cord. When 
the weather becomes severe, every one who can 
afford the expense throws over all a large lambskin 
cloak, the wool on which is worn inside. The material 



128 INDIA AND 

resembles our finest doeskin. The wealthy have 
them exquisitely wrought in green or yellow floss 
silk, representing the superb embroidery on Cashmere 
shawls. For the poor they are plain, and when the 
cloak is made of sheepskin it is very cheap. The 
pantaloons or drawers are capacious, and made of 
longcloth, or striped red and white silk called dirre- 
eye. The stockings were white or blue spotted, 
quite fine, and knit in Cabul. Shoes, usually red 
leather and plain ; sometimes those of India were 
worn, which are ornamented with spangles, and 
embroidered with gold thread. The turban con- 
sisted in summer of a piece of English sprigged or 
plain fine light white muslin, twelve yards long and 
a yard wide, and a cashmere shawl in winter. 
The loins were girt with a duplicate of the head- 
dress, folded tight over the kubbah ; and the fancy oc- 
casionally indulged in a loongee, of Peshour manu- 
facture, with gold ends. This is a kind of material 
peculiar to the place of its construction. It is made 
of cotton, and the pattern resembles exactly our 
common check, but is finely made, and may be 
valued, when ornamented with deep gold ends, at 
seventy or eighty rupees. It is formed of two 
pieces sewn down the middle, each three yards long 
and half a yard broad. 

The Ameer's manners were those of an educated 
Asiatic, and the fact is most remarkable, that all 
this family possess the " shirrum i huzzoor" in an 
eminent degree; that is, extreme modesty, ap- 
proaching to diffidence, which renders him inca- 
pable of denying a favour in the presence of the 
individual who prefers a suit with delicacy and 
tact! In conversation he is boisterous and ener- 
getic, which are habits arising from the military 



AVGHANISTAUN. 129 

life he has been accustomed to; extremely suscepti- 
ble to flattery, beyond measure vain, and fond 
of pleasantry. He is inattentive to forms, but 
jealous of all the respect that the strictest etiquette 
could demand. He is a monster of rapacity ; this 
quahty is a natural vice with him ; his eyes had a 
feline glare w^hen he looked full in the face of any 
one, and they assumed an awakened stare of atten- 
tion when the accumulation of gold was the subject 
of his thoughts. As a politician he knew well the 
character of every class of the population, having 
himself had practical experience of the whole range 
of human society, in all the forms in which the 
social bodies of that country present themselves to 
observation. He was accustomed to employ policy 
in ordinary intercourse with society, although the 
most revolting cruelty was recklessly practised on 
all occasions of exacting money. He is extremely 
vain of his talents as a speaker, and will sometimes 
declaim at great length, and with a good deal of 
eloquence, on trivial subjects. In these pretensions 
he was indulged by his flatterers, who listened with 
attention, and assented to his arguments with fre- 
quent exclamations of admiration. He is loud and 
vociferous on most occasions, as he seems to be 
always excited. When menaced by events of a 
grave, solemn, and important character, he be- 
comes dignified, quiet, submissive, and, if the af- 
fair should take a hopeless turn, he timidly and 
readily listens to the advice of any one, not even 
excepting his personal domestics ; and they are 
ever ready to display their influence by gratuitous 
interference. When the Ameer gave way to a de- 
sponding tone of mind, which was frequently the 
case, his perfidious principles caused him to mis- 

9 



130 INDIA AND 

trust every body, and he is consequently without a 
friend. On great emergencies he becomes fearful 
and apprehensive, and sometimes loses his presence 
of mind. When the wife of Suddoo Khan, the 
Ameer's sister, suborned one of my soldiers to 
murder her husband, information was conveyed to 
his highness at two o'clock, A. M. Relating the 
event to me next day he said, " I began to be 
alarmed, at that dead hour of the night, in the 
midst of my haram, and calling for my dagger, 
placed it under my pillow." I replied, that he did 
well, for it would have been heavy odds against 
him if such a host as formed the domestic esta- 
blishment about his highness was to become insub- 
ordinate in the solitude of night. Approaching 
his horse to mount, with the prospect of battle be- 
fore him, he has been known to put the wrong foot 
in the stirrup, which, had he finished the intention, 
would have placed his face towards the animal's 
tail ! This occurred, when he was encamped near 
Peshour. Runjeet'h's forces occupied the plain, 
and the Ameer determined to offer battle in opposi- 
tion to his council of state. Confused and bewil- 
dered with the fearful results to be apprehended, 
more from conflicting councils than the weapons 
of the foe, he resisted not the kindness of a friend, 
who gently solicited him to reconsider his last 
resolve ! 

The Ameer in early life, and until the age of 
thirty, was addicted to drunkenness. During his 
fits of intoxication, many ruthless acts of indiscri- 
minate barbarity were the result of these depraved 
hallucinations. Surrounded by a crowd of drunken 
revellers, maddened by the maniac draught of the 
frantic bowl, friend and colleague, master, man, and 



AVGHANISTAUN. 131 

slave, all indiscriminate and promiscuous actors in 
the wild, voluptuous, licentious scene of shameless 
bacchanals, they caroused and drank with prosti- 
tutes, and singers, and fiddlers, day and night, in 
one long, interminable cycle, — the libertine's eternity 
of sensual excitement and continuous debauchery ; 
and this tenor of life was encouraged by his re- 
tainers, who admired in his heedless vices the unre- 
strained license of feudal supremacy. 

It is related that when Dost Mahomed was a wan- 
derer in the fastnesses about Ghiznee, that fortress 
and vicinity being in his possession, a valuable 
caravan, in transit from Bocharah to India, en- 
camped for the night under the walls of the citadel. 
The followers of the predatory chief were unani- 
mous in recommending him to horroio a large sum 
of money from the travelling merchants. They all 
sallied out armed in the train of their chief, with the 
design of making friends with the caravan. On the 
road Dost Mahomed suddenly drew up his charger, 
and exclaimed, " Brothers, what are we going to 
do ? God knows whether these poor merchants 
will ever receive payment of the gold we take from 
them — as a loan — which we agreed among ourselves 
to solicit. And what are we to do with the money 
after we get it 1 Shall we buy dominion with the 
plunder of the unfortunate ? God forbid ! Victory 
is of God, and he conferreth glory and power upon 
those whom he will cherish. No ! it is better that 
we pass by this temptation of the devil, and see 
what Heaven has in reserve for us, ' for patience, 
though a bitter plant, produces sweet fruit.' " And 
so he returned upon his steps, and the hour of the 
day favouring the indulgence of leisure, he alighted 
on an eminence near the road, which afforded him 



^ 



132 INDIA AND 

a prospect of the route towards Cabul. At this 
moment a messenger appeared from the city with 
an invitation from the Kizzlebashe leaders of his 
opponent, pressing him to the assumption of the go- 
vernment, which their treason to the incumbent 
placed at his command. He immediately uncovered 
his head, and in the posture of supplication repeated 
the Fatteah or initial prayer, which is an invocation 
and religious formula in use among Mahomedans, 
and precedes the beginning of every important en- 
terprise. He added, *' God is great ! Behold, how 
dominion is the gift of God ! Blessed be the light 
of immortality ! — Mount, and away for Cabul !" 

The acquisition of sovereignty presented the prince 
in the character of a sincere reformer, in which 
effort of morals he was imitated by his court with 
truth and unmeasured pertinacity. In youth he was 
bold from necessity, but probably the experience of 
years, and the voluptuous excesses of luxurious lei- 
sure, in taking off the wiry edge from the sword of 
his ambition, dulled the instrument, and depraved 
its temper. I believe he is naturally timid, and I 
am unable to instance an example of his highness 
ever having boldly risked his person in an individual 
conflict. At the battle of Kandhar he and Shujah 
simultaneously ran away from each other. Dost 
Mahomed was the first to hear of his antagonist's 
flight. When satisfied that the field was entirely 
clear of the enemy, he rallied with becoming fierce- 
ness. " Stand 1" cried his mentor, " where would 
the houseless and the hopeless flee ? The ground 
thou standest upon is all the world to thee ! the vic- 
tor's throne or grave of victory ! Stand for God and 
the Prophet, (on whom be eternal peace,) and thy 



AVGHANISTAUN. 1 33 

own dear self. 'Tis paradise in death — in triumph, 
royalty !'^ 

This cautious valour, which is characteristic of 
the Ameer, it is said by his followers has become 
more conspicuous since his reformation of dissolute 
habits removed the cloud of intemperate exuberance 
which envelopes the psychological phenomena of 
the military mind ; or perhaps the sagacity of his 
judges has become more astute and captious by a 
system of abstinence, for " tee-totalism" was all the 
vogue amongst the courtiers of a reformed de- 
bauchee. Nevertheless, his perfect knowledge of 
the people over whom he was called to rule, and 
his unprincipled readiness at despotic sv^^ay, made 
him remarkably well adapted to govern the worse 
than savage tribes he had to command, especially 
when sustained by the powerful influence of the prae- 
torian or janissary tribe of Kizzlebashe. He is no 
believer in human principle, but a self- convicted and 
unchanging doubter of ev^ery motive but self-interest, 
and is ever on the alert to seize by craftiness the 
object which any one possessing power would at- 
tempt by the direct exertion of optional authority. 
He is liable to frequent despondency, but is too poli- 
tic to display this infirmity of feeling to common 
observation. It is only during a period of relaxa- 
tion that he has been known to give way to the de- 
pression of mind. He is an exquisite dissembler so 
long as his affairs are subservient to his will ; but 
the equanimity of his mind is liable to be deranged 
by untoward events, and on some occasions he has 
been known to shed unavailing tears of hopelessness, 
and fly for advice and consolation to the presence 
of his favourite wife, Khadija. To this lad}^ he is 
superstitiously attached, and probably he has been 



134 INDIA AND 

indebted to her circumspection and humanity for all 
the greatness he attained. She is not less rapacious 
than the Ameer, but the general tenor of her mind 
and manners are amiably adapted to her situation 
and rank. I am convinced her masculine spirit 
sustained him to the last, and could he have been 
guided by her sagacious mind, his affairs would have 
taken a totally different turn in the result of the 
diplomatic intercourse with the Indian government. 
This lady, as the mother of his heir, for whom the 
succession was designed, was the sultanah of the 
haram, called, by the Toorks, Walidah or " Queen- 
Mother." The Ameer's fortitude and bravery are 
questionable, but he is gifted with a pertinacity of 
perseverance amounting to capricious obstinacy, and 
is a most relentless enemy ; with him the principle 
of avarice was an active motive ; gold was his god, 
and blood-feuds were reconciled, murders com- 
pounded for, justice swayed out of the sober path of 
duty, and the connivance of every abuse, civil, po- 
litical, and moral, admitted in the observances of 
his devotion. There was nothing so good as not 
to be contemned — nothing was so bad as not to be 
honoured ; every design, however vile, was sterling 
merit w^hen proposed with a bribe. Had his pre- 
tensions been sustained by principles of virtue, his 
manners would have entitled him to the appellation 
and dignity of a highly refined man ; but he is known 
to be impure in his domestic habits. He indulges 
to excess in the lascivious sensualities so fascinatino* 
to the Oriental imagination, and consistent with the 
beatitude of their paradise. In the pursuit of these 
forbidden liaisons, impulse putting to flight the dig- 
nity of propriety, he has not unfrequently subjected 
himself to singular and grotesque positions, although 



AVGHANISTAUN. 135 

the certain consequence of such infidelity would be 
a severe and voluble castigation, followed by an 
irksome coolness of manner on the part of the sul- 
tanah, which endured until domestic harmony should 
be restored by the incidents of reconciliation con- 
stantly recurring in matrimonial communion, when 
strife is not the fruit of a discrepancy in temper or 
a consequence of deficient affection. He revelled 
and luxuriated in voluptuous and unrestrained licen- 
tiousness. 

His family consists of several wives and nume- 
rous descendants, with an endless train of slaves 
and other domestic attendants. Khadija, his prin- 
cipal wife, and sultanah of his haram, is a noble 
Dooraunee lady of the Populzye tribe. She has a 
sister in the haram of Shujah ul Moolk. She is the 
mother of the most esteemed progeny of his high- 
ness. Her offspring are five sons and a daughter. 
The eldest son is Mahomed Akber Khan, lately be- 
come notorious to the world by his exploits in the 
recent massacre of the British army and death of 
their distinguished political chief This young 
prince is the heir apparent of the Ameer, and has 
attained great reputation for bravery in the Avghan 
religious wars with the Seiks. He commanded the 
army sent by the Ameer at my suggestion against 
the Seik force of Peshour in the spring of 1837. A 
battle was fought at Jemrood in which two thousand 
Seiks, with Herree Singh, Runjeet'h's commander- 
in-chief, were killed, and also a thousand Avghans. 
Second, Hyder Khan, who was taken prisoner by the 
English on the fall ofGhiznee, where this young prince 
commanded. Third, Share Jan. Fourth, Mahomed, 
Ameen. Fifth, Mahomed — (name not recollected). 



136 INDIA AND 

The eldest is twenty-five years of age, and the young- 
est past seven. The daughter is married to a son of 
Mahomed Abzeem Khan's, and the two eldest sons 
are also wedded to their cousin-germans, both 
having two wives each, one of whom, in the case 
of Mahomed Akber, is of an inferior Avghan tribe, 
and consequently no relation. He married her, to 
whom he had been long betrothed, when himself 
and family retreated into Tatary as the British 
army advanced upon Cabul. The Ameer's oldest 
son, Mahomed Ufzell Khan, is twenty-seven years 
of age ; he lost his mother at an early period, a 
misfortune which has kept him back in life. His 
mother was of the Kizzlebashe tribe, and he is 
supposed to be biased in his sectarian principles 
towards the creed of the Persian schism. He was 
esteemed the head of the Kizzlebashe faction, 
whose interests he always sustained. He has a 
brother the exact image of his father, named 
Mahomed Azim. This young man, now in his 
twenty-third year, lost his moral reputation in a de- 
bauch with a Persian adventurer when on foreign 
service not long since, away from the influence of 
paternal control, and is now suffered to stand dis- 
regarded at the lower end of the Durbar, amongst 
the inferior subordinates of the government attaches, 
when he appears to pay his respects at the morning 
levees. Khadije, (the diminutive of Khadija), from 
her experience and influence as the mother of his 
heir, exercises paramount power in the haram, and 
is in fact the ruler's queen ; but the lady w^ho from 
rank and birth is entitled to that appellation, is Aga 
Taj. This lady has the misfortune to be placed in 
a position peculiarly painful. The daughter of Shah 



AVGHANISTAUN. 137 

Zada Abbass, Shujah's half brother by a Persian 
lady, she is a princess royal of the ancient regime, 
the grandchild of Timour Shah. Her father, who 
was some time King of Cabul, fled to Lahore, and 
deserted his family, most of whom remained at the 
capital. Aga Taja was forcibly seized by Dost 
Mahomed, and she became his lawful wife, but her 
high blood even now, although she has several chil- 
dren, will never let her speak of the Ameer by any 
other title than " Dosoo," a familiar nickname 
which the great apply to their slaves who may 
chance to have the cognomen of " Dost." She 
vaunts her princely origin, and calls the father 
of her children " her slave." Her person is quite 
diminutive, but a perfect beau ideal of exquisite 
and fairy-like perfection. It has been said she 
wore a luscious black mustache — a fine pencilled 
line upon the upper lip — but this assertion is an 
error; her beauty claims no propinquity of the kind 
with a trait so masculine. Her eldest child is a 
daughter; the next a son nine years old, called after 
his mother's great grandfather Ahmed Shah, the 
founder of the Suddoozye dynasty. Third, a son, 
Mahomed Zeman, in his seventh year. Fourth, 
fifth, and sixth, three daughters, the eldest of whom 
has just entered her sixth year, and the youngest 
was born in the fall of 1838. Her first-born was 
affianced to the second son of Nawaub Jubbar 
Khan, the Ameer's eldest surviving brother, and 
their nuptials were celebrated at Tash Khoorghaun, 
the capital of Khoolum, when they reached that 
city in their flight into Tatary. Whether victory 
should attend on the banner of her lord, or whether 
her uncle Shujah ascended the throne, Aga Taj 
was still the sufferer. The first event obscured the 



1 38 INDIA AND 

glory of her royal house, the second inflicted do- 
mestic nnisfortune. Her eldest son has a right 
royal presence, and her highness is herself a lady 
of princely bearing. Her high birth comnnands 
respect even from the sultanah mother ; but Aga 
Taj has not the talent to turn to political account 
the regard of her husband, or the submissive vene- 
ration which birth commands from those of inferior 
degree. Frequent ebullitions of ill feeling are faintly 
suppressed betwixt the princess born, and the prin- 
cess elect, the mother of Mahomed Akber. 

When the English agent who visited Cabul in 
1837-38, produced his presents for the Ameer's 
haram, (a breach of etiquette most inexcusable in 
any one pretending to a knowledge of Oriental 
customs,) they were distributed by the sultanah- 
mother, and it may be readily conceived that a 
more onerous duty could not have been imposed 
on her ladyship, although the value of these dona- 
tions was inconsiderable, and adapted only to the 
frivolous tastes of savages, or the wretched fancies 
of rude infatuated Africans. They consisted of pins, 
needles, scissors, penknives, silk handkerchiefs, toys, 
watches, musical snuff-boxes, &c., all of which were 
received with inexpressible surprise, and the feeling 
followed by a sense of strong disgust, intermin- 
gled with mortification and disappointment. Antici- 
pations a long time entertained, founded on the fact 
that Dost Mahomed had conditionally solicited the 
advent of a British agent at Cabul, and sustained 
by the Ameer's cupidity, kept their expectations 
alive with the hope of a golden subsidy. His high- 
ness was honoured with a pair of pistols and a spy- 
glass, as though the Governor-General would have 
suggested to the Ameer an allegory of the conser- 



AVGHANISTAUN. 139 

vative and offensive symbols of good government! 
Dost Mahomed exclaimed with a " pish !" as he 
threw them down before him and averted his face 
— " Behold ! I have feasted and honoured this 
Feringee to the extent of six thousand rupees, and 
have now a lot of pins and needles and sundry 
petty toys to show for my folly !" His humiliation 
was extreme. Every subterfuge that duplicity could 
devise, and every pretext that cunning could sug- 
gest, were used to work upon the English agent. 
The imaginary terrors of a Russian invasion were 
prominently displayed to him, and menaces of his 
personal safety were not spared to exact the ulti- 
matum of his views, and prevail upon him to accede 
to the Ameer's designs. But all in vain is the wisdom 
of man to contend with the arm of fate! As a last 
effort one of the refractory brothers of the Ameer, 
who ruled in Kandhar, was solicited to visit Cabul, 
and propose at a final conference an ultimatum for 
the decision of the English agent. Assembled in 
general council they proposed the following ques- 
tions and preamble. 

" Mahomed Shah (the King of Persia) offers to 
the Avghans the acquisition of Heraut'h, and guaran- 
tees the permanency of their power by an offensive 

and defensive treaty with a subsidy of rupees ; 

the treaty to be guaranteed by the Russian ambas- 
sador. Will the British government do this?' — 
Answer, No ! From that moment the English agent 
was dismissed with immediate, and somewhat inde- 
corous haste, though respectfully, and with presents 
of pacific propitiation, consisting of three or four 
horses, tolerably fair in value. Preparations for his 
departure from Cabul were immediately planned, 
the arrangements hurried with characteristic dread 



140 INDIA AND 

of delay, and large sums expended to insure the 
safe and speedy transport of the baggage belong- 
ing to the mission. The party leaving Cabul, pro- 
ceeded with unusual despatch for travellers. Reach- 
ing Jillalabad, they threw thenriselves upon floats 
extemporaneously and instantly prepared, by which 
manoeuvre they saved three days, and swept down 
the rapid current of the Cabul river, with apprehen- 
sions perturbed as the stream. Their fears were 
not unfounded. The Avghans were indignant at 
the result of the negotiations; and I have heard 
Dost Mahomed remark, " The greatest error of my 
life lay in this, that I allowed the English deceiver 
to escape with his head !" But this was at a later 
period — when the British army reached Kandhar — 
he added, *' Fool that I was ! God had given me a 
competency, and, dissatisfied with enough, I have 
ruined my afl^airs by making myself the pivot of 
foreign diplomacy; and in falling I meet the award 
due to the violation of duty, in disdaining the bless- 
ings of heaven." 

The distribution of the English trifles almost 
caused an insurrection amongst the inmates of the 
haram. Aga Taj thought her children entitled 
to choose before all the others, but in this fancy her 
highness was not gratified, and the disappointment 
gave rise to many expressions of asperity against 
the ruling power in the haram. Her little boy got 
hold of a musical toy called an accordion. As a 
matter of course, he soon managed to put it out of 
order, and her highness supposing, in common with 
all Asiatics, that a Christian is capable of every 
science, sent it to me with a request to repair it. I 
regretted the task exceeded my abilities in me- 
chanics. I learned from this source, the child of 



AVGHANISTAUN. 141 

the princess royal, the ridicule and disgust which 
the English diplomacy and niunificence excited in 
the minds of the ladies was general in the Ameer's 
family, and did more to lessen the agent's ascen- 
dancy at the court of Cabul than can easily be 
imagined by those who are unacquainted with the 
potency of backstair influence in an Oriental court. 
Another of the Ameer's lawful w'ives is a lady of 
high rank, the widow of his highness's brother, 
Mahomed Azeem Khan, who succeeded the Vizier 
Futty Khan. She had two daughters by her tirst 
husband, who were married to two of Dost Maho- 
med's sons, so that the father married the mother 
and two of his sons married his wife's children — a 
strange confusion of relationship, that would puzzle 
a college of heralds to classify. He had some com- 
punctions about forming the connexion, by the inter- 
marriage of the offspring ; but, as the lady possessed 
great wealth, it was expedient to marry her. He 
accordingly applied to the cazee, who instructed 
him to first give away the daughters to his sons, 
and afterwards marry the widow of his brother. 
He then plundered this lady of all her jewels, which 
were of great value. She had no oflspring by the 
Ameer, and lived in the haram without note or influ- 
ence. There was also a Highland lassie whom the 
Ameer married to strengthen his authority in the 
Kohistaun. She had a son, Akram Khan, now 
twenty-four years old. This is the young man who 
commanded (under my tutelage) the expedition into 
Tatary, of which my division formed a part, when 
a detachment of the Cabul army crossed the Cau- 
casian range of mountains, in the war of 1838-39, 
against the Prince of Kundooz, Meer Muraad Beg. 
An Avghan of the Khoorum race, which is of 



142 INDIA AND 

the Sheah persuasion, occupying the renaote valley 
near Bunnoo, was amongst the family of the Ameer. 

She had a son called Mahomed (name not 

recollected), about ten years old. — A prostitute, 
formerly in the service of Mahomed Azeem Khan, 
was married by the Ameer. She has given birth to 
two male children, the eldest six, and the other four 
years old. For these little ones he has great affec- 
tion, and their mother is no less favoured than the 
most happy member of the Ameer's haram. Latterly, 
the Ameer married, in a quiet way, without any kind 
of ostentation, a daughter of Nusser Ullah Khan, 
some time treasui-er of the Ameen ul Moolk, deceased. 
Her father was a refugee or emigrant at the court 
of Bocharah, to which place he fled to avoid the 
consequences of plebeian wealth, for in Cabul no 
parvenu, unless strongly sustained by the force of 
powerful patronage, could be tolerated in the pos- 
session of riches above his degree. The Ameer 
proposed to himself, by the marriage of the 
treasurer's daughter, to inveigle her father back 
to Cabul by the prospect of princely alliance ; 
but the plan was amongst the few unsuccessful 
schemes of his highness, whose finesse occasionally 
surpassed itself! The Ameen ul Moolk mentioned 
above, left a widow of singular beauty and reputed 
wealth, and the Ameer, who is a constant admirer 
of these two rare qualities, took her into his haram 
as a wife ; but they soon became mutually disgusted, 
and parted company by a friendly compact — the 
lady having been disburdened of her jewelled freight 
by the piracy of love ! For the rest, his liaisons 
amongst the attendants of the haram, permanent and 
transient, were numerous and characteristic of un- 
sagacious reason, of the non-instinctive homo sapiens, 



AVGHANISTAUN. 143 

that is more promiscuous than the motiveless insti- 
gations of mere instinct, which neither changes the 
order of nature nor multiplies causes. For the sub- 
sistence of his haram, each female, who was digni 
fied by the rank of a wife, had a specific allowance, 
out of which she maintained herself and domestic 
establishment. Matrimonial communion was occa- 
sionally sweetened, when such palliatives were re- 
commended by the versatility of vagrant tastes, by 
sumptuous presents of Indian brocades. Cashmere 
shawls, jewels, and the less costly, though highly 
esteemed wonders of the European looms — chintzes, 
silks, and tine cottons. The children were kept in 
the haram and educated there ; the females until the 
period of consummating an affianced bride, and the 
boys until they became old enough to bear arms or 
threaten to perform military duty. Those who had 
mothers to sustain their pretensions were prodi- 
giously precocious, and the age of twelve years was 
not considered an immature period of life for the 
induction of a favourite protege into the condition 
of incipient manhood. The neophyte is then allowed 
a separate establishment and a few military fol- 
lowers, and this courted distinction aflx)rds the young 
man the grateful opportunity of rewarding the fide- 
lity of his early attached retainers, who hang on to 
the fate of their superior through all the changes 
that destiny can control, with her ever fitful and 
capricious mockery of human wisdom. 

The Ameer occupied, with his family, a palace 
built by one of the Suddoozye kings. The Avghan 
chiefs under the oligarchy w^ere no inconsistent ad- 
vocates of disloyal politics. Suiting the action to 
the word, they rather aflTected a plainness of garb, and 
aversion to the magnificence which desecrates the 



144 INDIA AND 

humility of conscious magnanimity by the massive 
and ornamental display of architectural grandeur. 
Their designs are confined more to utilitarian pur- 
poses than the efforts of sublime and stupendous 
genius or the beaux arts. Each man is an Agesilaus 
in himself, and values his coarse rude national habit, 
the unsightly produce of a semibarbarous loom, far 
above those exquisite elaborations, the nice and 
sumptuous fabrics of superb refinement. When they 
have decorated their females with the voluptuous 
fascinations of " barbaric pearl and saint-seducing 
gold," and ornamented their horses with similar and 
appropriate adjuvants of emblazoning display, de- 
sire and covetousness are sufficiently inflamed and 
gratified by the survey of opulence. The pompous 
embellishments of art they prefer to hold in extra- 
neous honour, whilst iron war and the vehement 
pursuits of savage heroes fill up the fiercer attributes 
of their ferocious enjoyments. 

The Ameer was not attended by a guard of regu- 
lar troops, but his personal servants, many of whom 
were confidential household slaves, came armed into 
his presence. Every day, except Thursday morn- 
ing, he sat in public to transact business. Thursday 
morning was devoted to the bath until 10 o'clock ; 
after this hour those only visited him who were called. 
He usually employed the time before noon in auditing 
his domestic affairs in company with his mirzas or 
writers. His senior brother, Nawaub Jubbar Khan, 
and the eldest among his nephews, who was a con- 
temporary in age with himself, and highly respected 
by him for the profound practical wisdom of his mea- 
sures, the Nawaub Mahomed Zeman Khan, were 
accustomed to pay their respects early in the morn- 
ing on ordinary days. The first named was less 



AVGHANISTAUN. 1 45 

formal, and generally went to durbar* every day. 
The other was a valetudinarian, and being fond of 
the etiquette of forms, would urge his ill health as 
an excuse for not appearing in public more fre- 
quently. The Ameer never adopted any important 
measure without consulting Nawaub Zeman Khan. 
This Nawaub has, since the expulsion of the English 
from Cabul, been made Shujah ul Moolk's vizier. 
He is a profound politician, but still of benevolent 
reputation, and the possession or affectation of many 
estimable virtues may be placed amongst the evi- 
dences of his wisdom. Friday was appropriated 
to the promiscuous access of the populace. On this 
day the gateway of his durbar was thrown wide 
open, and the doorkeepers withdrawn. Every one 
who had a cause to urge or curiosity to gratify 
might come into the presence without impediment. 
The Ameer heard all complaints in person, attended 
by the Cauzee. Civil causes were referred to this 
functionary for judgment, and the sentence was 
enforced by the Ameer. Criminal causes which 
were not likely to yield a fine, were also referred to 
the Cauzee, to shift from his own shoulders the odium 
of an onerous act. He never hesitated enforcing 
the Ooriff law, when he could do so without en- 
croaching upon or curtailing the privileges of the 
oligarchy. The Ooriff is the law of usage adminis- 
tered by secular authority. But as the Sherrah, 
or written law of Mahomed, the rule for all Ma- 
homedan communities, is the only legal polity, the 
Ooriff is an usurpation of might, founded in the 
absolute will of the prince in his secular character,., 
and when the ability to enforce his edicts ceases to 

* The levee. 
10 



146 INDIA AND 

exist, the Sherrah resumes its force, and maybe 
effectually appealed to, superseding by its award 
the decrees of an usurped power. If the prince 
chooses to violate the Sherrah, he acts upon his in- 
dividual responsibility; his judgments when oppres- 
sive are invasions of popular rights, and conse- 
quently a tyranny which is only yielded to by the 
obsequious necessity of present evil. 

The remainder of the week was employed in the 
transaction of miscellaneous business. The hours 
of business were confined to the forenoon. His 
highness, in common with all Mahomedans, was 
an early riser, which custom is necessary to admit 
of the performance of the prescribed morning 
prayers. Of the five periods of prayer commanded 
by the traditionary law, the first must be finished 
before sunrise, otherwise the act becomes "guzzah," 
or " lapsed ;" in this event the prayer is unaccepta- 
ble to the Deity, or of no avail ; and the conse- 
quences attending neglect of religious duty should 
be deprecated by charitable donation, at least to the 
provision of a meal for the necessitous. Consci- 
entious persons will perform this penitential hospi- 
tality, though the mass of the community are indif- 
ferent to the pious injunction. After the conclusion 
of this first religious duty, which commences the 
diurnal service and routine of life, he read a few 
pages in the Koran attended by his Immaum. This 
functionary translated into Persian, or rather ex- 
pounded in that colloquial dialect, the Arabic of the 
sacred volume, which the Mosleman hold to be the 
Word of God. In this employment he would be en- 
gaged an hour, more or less, as the task was longer 
or shorter. At the conclusion of this matin exer- 
cise, to which all the faithful, who have singular 



AVGHANISTAUN. 147 

pretensions to piety, are addicted, the chiefs who 
composed the durbar naade their entree promiscu- 
ously, and, with the simple ceremony of a bow, and 
the ordinary salutation " Usulam Allaikoom," touch- 
ing the forehead as they leaned forward with the 
inner surface of the four fingers of the right hand, 
took their seats on the right or left of his highness. 
They were seated generally according to the rank 
of each guest. There was a master of ceremonies, 
called " Ishk Aughassee," (pronounced Shaugassee,) 
with a long official wand of olive wood, turned and 
lacquered yellow ; upon this he leaned when unoc- 
cupied, at the entrance into the presence chamber, 
facing the Ameer in a standing attitude. When a 
Sirdar appeared he conducted him to his appro- 
priate place, or in case some one of inferior dignity 
preoccupied the position, he caused the locality to 
be vacated for the accommodation of the pretender 
whose right was incontestable ; and the claim of 
either was indicated by his rank or the favour in 
which he stood at court. The Ameer arose to re- 
ceive his brother and the Nawaub Mahomed Zeman 
Khan. To others of high repute he would rise upon 
his knees, or make an effort to do so, which merely 
seemed like an inclination of the body. 

The salutation of every one was returned by an 
audible response, it being amongst the religious in- 
junctions of the faithful to reply to preferred civility 
a reciprocal acknowledgment. They are probably 
just in the estimation of politeness when they ascribe 
humility and condescension to the courteous. These 
are qualities which all profess to admire and endea- 
vour to practise, notwithstanding the exclusive 
bigotry of pure Mahomedanism. My place in dur- 
bar was alongside of the Ameer, on the left, if the 



148 INDIA AND 

right should be preoccupied, otherwise on the right. 
If his brother, the Nawaub, was there when I entered, 
he always gave place to me. The Nawaubs Jub- 
bar Khan and Mahomed Zeman Khan, and Sirdar 
Golam Mahomed Khan Populzye, whose daughter 
was married to the heir apparent, and myself, were 
the only officers who enjoyed the prescriptive right 
of seating ourselves on the same numed or felt which 
his highness occupied. When the heir apparent was 
present he did so also, but generally at the extremity 
of the high place at a little distance from his father : 
then I always strove to sit below him ; but this was 
an action the young prince affably dispensed with, 
and usually commanded me to sit nearer the Ameer 
than himself. As the Ameer's aid-de-camp and gene- 
ral of his regular troops, 1 possessed the rank of a 
chief Sirdar ; and his highness was ever pleased when 
I appeared in his suite, either in his afternoon rides, 
which he was accustomed to take- for recreation, or 
in the morning durbar, when he sat for the transac- 
tion of business. About 11 o'clock, A. M., the peo- 
ple and officials, suitors and attendants, were dis- 
missed, with the exception of those who usually'ate 
in company with his highness, and breakfast was 
served in. These guests were, his brother, one or 
two of his chief counsellors, and myself, who fami- 
liarized ourselves with the Ameer by partaking of 
the same dish with his highness. The attaches of the 
durbar, of rank and dignity becoming the princely 
hospitality, one or two of his principal secreta- 
ries and feudal lords in confidential employment, 
assisted at the next dish of pillao placed on the cloth 
below the Ameer. Men of inferior dignity, though 
respectable, as persons of official rank, gathered 
around a third kab or plate of pillao, and a fourth 



AVGHANISTAUN. 149 

and fifth detachment, the last of whom might be the 
fiddlers, huddled together over the lowest dish, which 
was cooked, in reference to its debased position, with 
very little ghee, (melted butter,) and probably without 
the 'viand. "The standing dish is a pillao made of rice 
and meat, usually mutton, sometimes fowl. There 
were ragouts of fowl and partridges; soup, boiled pot- 
herbs, pickles, and preserves : a large bowl of sher- 
bet occupied the middle of the feast. Our bread was 
leavened, and formed into a flat round cake, a foot 
in diameter, and an inch thick, grooved at intervals 
with ridges about two fingers broad and served as a 
plate ; it was excellent, and highly creditable to the 
Cabul bakers, as the whole feast was to the cuisine of 
the " artiste" who manipulated the comestibles. The 
cooks are natives of Cashmere, and their system is 
Persian, with the embellishments of Cashmerian in- 
genuity in the invention, service, and concoction of 
delicious preparations, not surpassed by those superb 
Frenchmen who have thought themselves unrivalled 
in the science of Potology. The whole was despatch- 
ed in half an hour, and the servants, whose portion 
was the remnants of the meal, not unfrequently con- 
founded the moral of the old saw *' the latter end of 
a feast is better than the beginning of a fray," as with 
them these extremes of hate and love, of hostility and 
hospitality, were identified in synonymous measure. 
The servants who removed the dishes devoured their 
broken contents with the voracity of kites and vul- 
tures on the wing. Scarcely out of the presence, the 
morsels of food were gobbled up with the appetite of 
struggling hunger in contending feud. 

When recent spring fruit came into season the 
Ameer frequently breakfasted at nine o'clock, on 
mulberries or apricots, in which instance he usually 



150 INDIA AND 

abstained from the more solid repast at meridian. 
The peculiar attribute of the Cabul climate and 
alpine topography, is the contemporaneous preva- 
lence of all the spring fruits at one period ; the first 
ripened continuing in perfection throughout the 
season — the various modifications and different 
exposure of the valleys and glens affording a ver- 
satility of temperature that produces the effect of 
a progressive season, marked by the maturity of 
abundant and delicious fructification. At twelve 
o'clock, the Prince and the elite retired and slept 
until two P. M. ; at this hour they arose to per- 
form the second prayer. After his ablutions and 
toilet the Ameer egressed from his haram, and 
mounting his horse, which was in waiting at 
the gatev^ay, he sallied out upon his evening ride. 
He had a fondness for fine horses, and generally 
visited his stud in the afternoon ; but this occupa- 
tion was more appropriate to the spring, when 
the brood mares and colts attracted his regard, 
and participated in his care. In the summer 
and fall he luxuriated in the picturesque scenery 
about the city from a favourite prospect point ; 
seated himself, with a few select friends., on the bank 
of a running stream, of which there were several 
about the vicinity, and enjoyed a cup of tea ; or 
visited some one of the magnificent, ornamental, and 
useful gardens near the suburbs of Cabul, accom- 
panied by a train of musicians. In the spring he 
viewed his stud daily about three or four P. M. He 
sat on a terrace made for the purpose, two or three 
feet high, covered with felts. Here many of his chiefs 
joined him who did not usually attend in morning dur- 
bar. These were stipendiary lords, and moolahs or 
priests and familiar friends who enjoyed his confi- 



AVGHANISTAUN. 151 

dence; they passed their time in smoking the cul- 
lioon,* desultory conversation, complimentary com- 
mendations of the prince's unique fancy for horses, and 
admiration of the promising brood of young colts, 
which were the delight of his highness and favour- 
ites of his taste. These companions passed the 
evening: with his hiorhness until he retired. He 
returned to his Derri Khaneh (place of durbar) at 
nightfall. Having previously performed the third 
prayer, he mounted his horse and moved into quar- 
ters. The evenings, when the weather permitted 
were passed in a beautiful flower garden : we sat on 
a low terrace illuminated by a large lamp. During 
the season of full bloom, the position was sur- 
rounded by an invisible and delightful fragrance of 
the ever w^akeful floral nature ; the intoxicating per- 
fume of the rose, the spicy pink breathing of sweet- 
ness, and the flood of grateful odour that bathed 
the senses from the enchanting " shubboo."f The 
genial air of midsummer, tempered by the ever- 
lasting Alps of permanent snow near the valley, 
gratefully clothed our nocturnal hours in a volup- 
tuous mantle of serene repose. The music was 
there too, fitful, frantic, or pathetic, as the feast of 
reason and the flow of soul invoked its mysterious 
influence which, ^ 

" Softly sweet in Persian measure, 
Gently soothed the soul to pleasure." 

Cabul, the city of a thousand gardens, in those days 
was a paradise far removed from the agitating 

* Persian water pipe. 

t" Or nocturnal odour ;" the July or J illy flower, that sheds its 
scent after niglitfall, is so called by the Persians. 



152 INDIA AND 

scenes of life away from the world. In the re- 
niotest mountain glens and vales of the " frosty 
Caucasus," devoted to the fairy conceptions of 
imaginative romance, there the soul of love sighed 
not but luxuriated in the delicious exuberance of 
ideality, and associated in fellowship with the 
nightingale, whose only dream was of carnation 
roses and Cupid gambolHng in a bed of pansies, and 
who sang so sweetly in her vesper song of never 
dying happiness in love's uninvaded bower. And I 
have seen this countr}^ sacred to the harmony of 
hallowed solitude, desecrated by the rude intrusion 
of senseless stranger boors, vile in habits, infamous 
in vulgar tastes — the prompt and apathetic instru- 
ments of master minds, callous leaders in the san- 
guinary march of heedless conquests, w^ho crushed 
the feeble heart and hushed the merry voice of 
mirth, hilarity, and joy. To return to the Ameer. 
His highness kept very late hours, particularly 
during the long nights of winter. I have re- 
peatedly sat up with him until three A. M. Dinner 
was brought after " usser," or the fourth prayer, 
which shortly followed sunset. This meal similar to 
the breakfast w^as served sooner or later, generally 
before eight o'clock, as his appetite suggested, al- 
though sometimes deferred until ten o'clock. When 
this was the case, fresh fruit would be introduced 
about eight, and the intermediate time was passed 
by his highness playing several games of chess with 
Cauzee Budder u'Deen, or in conversation. When 
his highness was engaged at chess the conversation 
ceased, and the interlocutors gathered nearer the per- 
formers, to observe the game, and applaud the saga- 
city he displaj^ed. I never knew him lose a game. 
The Cauzee was always beaten. At the conclusion 



AVGIIANISTAUN. 153 

of each game the science of ceiiain moves was 
discussed, and a sufficient amount of flattery be- 
stowed on the unrivalled play of his highness. 
Notwithstanding, the wily Avghans would aside 
pass winks and gestures from one to another, and 
occasionally some one, more privileged than the 
rest, has been heard to taunt the Ameer, by hinting 
that the Cauzee played bad intentionally, and lost to 
flatter him. He took this rallying always in good 
part, and it is certain that the Cauzee was much too 
complaisant ever to gain a game even by chance. 

These nocturnal parties were conducted with per- 
fect regard to etiquette and good manners. He was 
fond of listening to the relation of travels, and allu- 
sions to history; made frequent inquiries of merchants 
who were known to visit distant countries, concern- 
ing the manners and customs of the people they had 
seen, the character of the prince, the government, 
religion, and particularly, geography and topo- 
graphy, for which sciences he seemed to have a 
strong inclination. He was well acquainted with 
the Russian military system, and the best account, 
detailed with accuracy and illustrative minuteness, 
I have heard of the destruction of the janissaries by 
the last Sooltaun of Turkey, was recited to me by 
the Ameer. He was much addicted to telling stories 
of his personal adventures ; he delighted to talk of 
himself, was pleased with his own declamation, and 
vain of his eloquence. If merit is to elicit the award 
of praise, he was justly entitled to admiration for 
the ready command of language and agreeable 
mode of displaying his talents in colloquial inter- 
course. Buffoonery never formed a part of his 
princely amusements, but refinement of moral or 
purity of design did not always characterize the 



154 INDIA AND 

tenor of his improvisaiore. His anecdotes were not 
unfrequently gross and sensual. Unsophisticated by 
the arts of intellectuaUty, he thought that " nature 
unadorned was adorned the most." No event lost 
by relating any importance in reality, or was ob- 
scured by the nomenclature of modesty. He dealt 
a good deal in sarcasm, and was ever ready to 
trump his adversary's trick. Ridicule was a weapon 
that he flourished with considerable effect, and he 
could good-humouredly make himself or his position 
the subject of ludicrous wit. The demands of his 
courtiers, or rather the feudal lords who represented 
the communities and constituted the most powerful 
element of the government, kept the Ameer always 
greatly straitened for the resources of present means, 
and I have heard him make his poverty, which really 
arose from extreme circumspection in providing for 
the necessities of personal defence out of his civil 
list, the source of ridicule. He alluded to the rapa- 
city of the Avghans, and made himself the object of 
derision. " We are," said his highness, addressing 
himself to me, " like the hungry fox, of whom you 
may have heard V I assured him I had not, and 
begged to be indulged with the relation. 

" The Avghans know the story well," he con- 
tinued : " there was a miserable, half-starved fox, 
who lived or rather famished in the mountains about 
Cabul, where you know the inhabitants seek their 
bread in the bowels of a rock. He had been unsuc- 
cessfully prowling about all night in search of food, 
and was reluctantly, and faint with the despondence 
of disappointed hope, obliged about daylight to slink 
away towards his hiding-place, — snarling, growling, 
and madly snapping at the oblique rays of the rising 
sun, that glanced in his worried eyes, displacing the 



AVGHANISTAUN. 155 

shade of early day ; he trotted on sullenly and for- 
lorn with the pains and impatient violence of hun- 
ger. Reflecting on the misfortunes of his destiny, he 
suddenly came face to face with a large ram of the 
broad-tailed breed. No salutation greeted the inter- 
view ; one was predetermined to see an enemy in 
every casual rencontre, and the other never cared, 
for he was accustomed to doubts and buts, to make 
acquaintance with strangers ; and he grazed alone, 
and nibbled the soft grass, and licked the morning 
dew as he browsed in solitary independence. Rey- 
nard stopped and eyed him with a strong desire to 
seize hold of his throat; but natural timidity con- 
strained him to avoid the attempt. Looking wistfully 
after him as he slowly moved away, the fox was 
astounded to see the large pendulous tail, which 
appeared like a load of flesh, dangling precariously, 
and on the point of falling from its attachment. 
New hopes kindled in his hungry stomach, and he 
stole softly after the ram, expecting the momentary 
descent of the excrescence which seemed so useless 
to the owner and desirable to himself. He thought 
the ram was ready enough to get rid of the tail, for 
he shook it more vigorously than usual that day. 
Revnard ever and anon started forward to seize the 
prize, which at every step gave promise, by its 
oscillating and frequent motion, and rapid and 
sudden gyrations, of an immediate meal. Now the 
ram stamped angrily, and evinced extreme impa- 
tience; his tail vibrated, and the fox, in breathless 
desire, and desperate with hunger, felt, or thought 
he felt, the morsel between his teeth. Still the tail 
hung on, and the expectant fox, with renewed 
allurements, kept on the track of the ram, who 



156 INDIA AND 

went slowly and quietly browsing along the whole 
day. At length reaching his fold he walked in, and 
left the disappointed fox, hungry and hopeless, 
standing at the door. So the day passed off, Rey- 
nard's wants becoming insupportably urgent ; and 
this starving prototype of the famished Avghans 
suspended the cravings of his stomach by gnawing 
at an old cast-off shoe of the shepherds, or some 
such insufficient fare, and went away trusting to 
Providence. Now this is just my condition," added 
his highness, with a vociferous laugh ; " I shall be 
looking after this European agent in momentary 
expectation of something falling from him, and 
eventually turn away like the miserable fox, to feed 
on the hard fare which has always been the lot of 
us mountaineers. As well might the fox have 
looked for the descent of the ram's tail, as I antici- 
pate pecuniary assistance from this Feringee. But 
what of that? Thanks and praise be to God, the Cre- 
ator of all things, we are not without an intercessor 
in the divine mercy." 

In his dress the Ameer affects plainness. His ap- 
parel is that of a Dooraunee gentleman, of a liberal 
establishment, without any distinctive designation. 
He was much attached to horses, and alw^ays de- 
sired to have fine animals of the first breed. He 
had many splendid saddle horses from the most 
celebrated marts of Toorkistaun, and a few Arabs; 
he had also a fine charger from Khoordistaun, of a 
dappled iron gray colour, which I think was the 
prettiest of all his stud. 

The Ameer never appears armed except on a 
journey. In the ordinary intercourse of society, the 
Dooraunee chiefs do not wear arms; but they are all 
accustomed to do so when travelling. The Navs^aub 



AVGHANISTAUN. 157 

Jubbar Khan formed an exception to this general 
remark. I never saw him armed on a journey, 
though I have repeatedly accompanied liim on excur- 
sions. When in the presence of a hostile army he 
came into the field as an ambassador, conjointly 
with myself, which was the only occasion on which I 
ever saw him armed, he wore, in a plain scabbard, 
a Persian sword, which is said to have cost ten thou- 
sand rupees.* 

As Ameer ul Momineen or commander of the 
fathful, the example of sobriety, humility, and justice 
was incumbent on Dost Mahomed, all of which he 
attempted, and thereby gave occasion to inquisitive 
persons to stigmatize his character with the charge 
of hypocrisy, for he was vain, rapacious, and per- 
fidious. His highness also professes to have great 
veneration for religion, and accordingly displays a 
show of respect for the ulima or professors of Ma- 
homedan law. He has promulgated religious wars 
against the Seiks, and sworn eternal enmity to their 
race ; he has coined money in his own name as an 
independent prince, the inscription pledging him to 
an exterminating system of war with his infidel 
neighbours, which principle would carry him much 
farther than Lahore ; for after having conquered 
the Seiks, there is China next to employ the arms of 
the faithful, and also the British power in India. 
The capacity of his mind, or rather the bigotry of 
his superstition, presents a comprehensive and in- 
vincible response to every doubt. " All infidels are 
alike to the faithful, and before God there is nothing 
impossible." Nawaub Mahomed Zeman Khan, his 
chief privy counsellor, expressed his opinion that 

* Five thousand dollars. 



158 INDIA AND 

the sole object of the Ameer's intrigues with the 
Russians, Persians, and English, was to extract 
money from either or every one of those parties, 
which he would instantly have expended in a cru- 
sade against the Seiks, for the conquest of Peshour. 
He made a religious war the pretext to animate 
popular feehng, and directed the excitement through 
a surreptitious channel, towards the establishment 
of political views. That he was not so devoted to 
the principles of Islam as to keep only in mind the 
object of a religious war was evident from the fact 
of his proposing pacific terms to Runjeet'h, on con- 
dition of receiving Peshour; and this he did when I 
visited his camp as ambassador from the court of 
Lahore. His highness was then approaching that 
city with an army of fifty thousand musketeers, in 
the spring of 1835. This army consisted chiefly of 
the militia, coinprising a large portion of the undis- 
ciplined but able-bodied populace of his principality. 
He boasted to me that he was follow^ed by one hun- 
dred thousand armed men at the moment I entered 
his camp, and I remarked " If the Prince of Panjab 
(Runjeet'h) chose to assemble the militia of his do- 
minions, he could brino; ten times the number into 
the field ; but you will have regular troops to fight, 
when you contend against Runjeet'h's forces, and 
your sans culotie militia will vanish like mist before 
the sun." 

I spoke in an exalted strain of the efficiency of 
the Seik army, and displayed the wealth and mili- 
tary force of Runjeet'h in a light which made the 
Ameer's spirit recoil. He lost his temper, which 
he readily did, and became enraged, and then his 
eyes glared upon me as he replied with a charac- 
teristic shake of the head, and elevated brows, all 



AVGHANISTAUN. 159 

of which was to indicate a reckless wilfulness of 
design : " Your appearance in the nnidst of nay 
camp at this naonnent of general excitement may be 
attended with personal danger. When Secunder 
(Alexander) visited this country, he sent a confi- 
dential ngent to the prince hereabout, and the 
mountaineers murdered Secunder's ambassador 1" 
Feeling myself strong in the friendship of his bro- 
thers, and intimacy of his most influential chiefs, I 
answered roughly and without hesitating, " I am 
not accredited to you, but to your brother, who is 
now a guest amongst you as I am myself." This 
expression, which intimated my knowledge of the 
discord prevailing in his domestic affairs, exaspe- 
rated the Ameer to say, " My brother! — who is the 
brother independent of my will? Is not the policy 
of my court controlled by myself, that the enemy 
sends an ambassador to another in the midst of my 
camp? Know that I am all in all!" and upon this 
arrogant pretension I planned and accomplished his 
defeat. I did not fail subsequently to draw the 
attention of his brother to the assertion of supre- 
macy by the Ameer, and the detriment to his per- 
sonal dignity and political importance compromised 
by that assumption. It was evident his highness no 
longer considered his brother a party in his negotia- 
tions with the Seiks, and that if Runjeet'h gave up 
to the Ameer the city of Peshour, his highness would 
retain the acquisition on his own account, and not, as 
he fancied, procure the cession for him.* His best 

* This brother, who was Sooltaun Mahomed Khan, was then 
lately deprived of Peshour by Runjeet'h, and had thrown himself 
on the hospitality of Dost Mahomed to solicit his assistance in the 
endeavour to drive out the Seiks. The Ameer readily approached 
Peshour with that ostensible purpose, but secretly with the motive 
of gaining the city for himself by any possible means. 



160 INDIA AND 

plan would be to anticipate the Ameer, who was in 
secret communication with Runjeet'h, and go over 
at once to the Prince of Lahore, who would receive 
him munificently, and satisfy him in all his hopes ; 
for there was now evidence that the Ameer only 
coveted Peshour, without being actuated by reli- 
gious feeling against the Seiks; and was treating 
clandestinely for the purpose. The knowledge of 
this fact also caused many of his followers to dis- 
perse. I encouraged the Ameer's expectation that 
Runjeet'h might be induced to relinquish Peshour, 
which kept him from throwing away his resources 
on the hungry retainers who followed his standard. 
Many of them in consequence withdrew, and as 
has already been related, his brother confirmed the 
defection — changing position on the board, and 
castling with the King of Lahore. 

When the Ameer was engaged in military de- 
monstrations he kept up more state than at other 
times. He had an extensive suite of tents, capable 
of accommodating his durbar. He gave audience 
seated at the upper end of a large double-poled 
tent, one side of which opened into an area in- 
cluded within extemporaneous walls of party- 
coloured canvass. These were set up to screen 
the occupants from public gaze. The hour of 
marching was designated by the Ameer, and the 
army moved oflf generally about daybreak. On the 
march he was accompanied by a body of irregular 
cavalry, constituted of the confidential retainers ; his 
personal guard, his domestic establishment, com- 
posed of the pesh khidmuts,* household slaves, 
and most trustworthy military adherents, all of 

* Body servants. 



AVGHANISTAUN. 161 

whom are styled " Umilah i Khwass," or select re- 
tainers. Many of the feudal lords, brothers, coun- 
sellors, and subordinate chiefs, with their immediate 
responsible servants, also swelled the cavalcade and 
added the imposing dignity of numbers to the pro- 
miscuous and undisciplined swarms of cavalry, 
each band being designated by a discriminating 
banner and preceded by kettle-drums at the saddle- 
bow of the "DufTNowaz."* 

The shrill trumpet's blast and the drum's deep roll, 
The towering plume and the prancing steeds, 
Then clamour'd afar to the soldier's soul 
Gallantry, glory, and chivalrous deeds. 

His highness held a levee for half an hour after 
reaching his tent, when the durbar was dismissed ; 
and in the afternoon about three o'clock the prin- 
cipal chiefs, and every one who may have a feasible 
representation to prefer, present themselves and are 
admitted. The Ameer, although always accessible, 
was still more so when surrounded by his army in 
the field than in quarters. They retired within two 
hours, and assembled again after the prayer of 
" Usser,'' at sunset. 

Smoking the cuUioon was always an interlude of 
frequent recurring instance, and the fumes of the 
weed enveloped with ominous clouds the thoughtful 
conclave, when excitement swept over the nerves ; 
deep inspirations of the bland sedative subduing the 
solicitude of care. The Persian pipe was replenished 
and passed round at brief intervals upon all abstruse 
occasions. Many an abstract idea seems to have 

* The person who sounds the kettle-drum. He is usually the 
barber, en cavalier. 

11 



162 INDIA AND 

found a buoyant naedium in "the snnolie that so 
gracefully curled" from the human mouth divine, 
and as the lips propelled the vapour, the tongue va- 
poured in turn. Boasting, indeed, is one of the essen- 
tial elements of Asiatic bravery, the most forcible 
proof the Ameer could instance of dubious fidelity 
on the part of a craven chief was " he never boasted 
of prospective success during the whole period of 
his service in camp." 

The company that dines with the Ameer when in 
the field is not so recherche as usual, inasmuch as 
any one of respectable pretensions may make an 
effort to stay when an attendant announces the meal, 
which has been previously called for by the Ameer, 
and if the place was not crowded with his superiors, 
would passively be allowed by the servants to thrust 
his fist into the everlasting pillao. In case of a mul- 
titude, the small folk would be ordered out by the 
master of ceremonies, to give place for others of 
higher rank. Most of the khans or chiefs usually 
dine in their own tents. This is expected by their 
retainers, who have better fare from the remnants 
of their leader's hospitality than their ordinary allow- 
ance. Those who retire, or remain at home to dine, 
call on the Ameer subsequently. The food of his 
highness is prepared by responsible servants, and he 
carefully abstains from partaking of a collation pro- 
vided by any one else ; neither will his brothers 
participate in a preparation procured from his esta- 
blishment, unless it has been provided for the Ameer, 
and first tasted by his highness. In company with 
Sooltaun Mahomed Khan, I arrived in the Khyber 
defile at the Ameer's tent one day later than ordi- 
nary, after the durbar had been dismissed, and the 
breakfast despatched. Civility required that food 



AVGHANISTAUN. 163 

should be placed before the Ameer's brother. All 
comestibles of the cuisine had been removed ; but 
preserves, and bread, and cheese were proffered, 
which Sooltaun Mahomed declined with acknow- 
ledgments of the hospitality. His attendants did 
the practical honours to the feast; but the day being 
exceedingly hot, and the Sirdar extremely thirsty 
from fatigue and exposure to the sun, was invited 
by the Ameer to take a drink of Doug.* The bro- 
ther hesitatingly declined the proposed kindness; but 
the Ameer importuned him, and forthwith ordered 
a servant who was in waiting to produce the beve- 
rage. It was brought instantly, and as the subor- 
dinate approached with it, Sooltaun Mahomed mo- 
tioned him to hand the bowl, containing the doug, 
to the Ameer. The Ameer excused himself, say- 
ing, " I have breakfasted, lalla ;| help yourself." Then 
commenced a scene of protestation and importunity 
which lasted several moments ; at length Sooltaun 
Mahomed observed, " Impossible, brother; it's not 
possible for me to take it until you have first re- 
freshed yourself," and so, notwithstanding his high- 
ness was not at all thirsty, his brother, by the pre- 
text of hospitality, assured himself of the salutary 
condition of the proffered bowl, by first obliging the 
host to drink, which he did freely, and then trans- 
ferred it to his guest. I drank from the same bowl 
and of the identical contents with which the princes 
refreshed themselves, and add my testimony to what 
I have frequently heard expressed, that sour milk 

* This is sour milk not skimmed. It is fresh milk prepared by 
a premature process of souring, and then made into a homogeneous 
fluid by thorough shaking in a leather bag, 

t Brother. 



164 INDIA AND 

surpasses any other beverage to quench thirst in a 
sultry climate on a hot day. 

The Ameer is styled by his flatterers commander 
of the faithful; but that title belongs only to the 
Sooltaun of Turkey, called by the Mahomedans 
Sooltaun of Room. The sooltaun is the head of the 
Mosleman religion ; he derives his sacred character 
from his ancestor, the great Toghrul Beg, who wsls 
invested with the dignity of vicegerent of Mahomed, 
and commander of the faithful, by the Khalif of 
Baghdad, (according to D'Herbelot,) in the year 
1057, A. D., or 448 of the Mahomedan year, in the 
month Zul Kaadeh, and twenty-fifth day thereof. 

The Ameer professes great regard for religion ; 
he strictly conforms to the prescribed rules of prayer, 
observes the fasts, the ceremonies, and rites which 
belong to the Mahomedan faith ; but his practice, 
though generally conformable to oriental ideas of 
morality, is at variance with piety and equity. He 
believes in the orthodox principles of the Mahome- 
dan religion, which are professed by the sect of 
Soonee, although his education in very early life 
must have given his mind a bias towards the sect 
of Sheah, of which schismatic persuasion his mother 
was a disciple. 

Apparently he is not a bigoted Soonee, which cir- 
cumstance rather favours the suspicion of his being 
inclined to the opposite creed. One of the princi- 
ples of the Sheah sect is to inculcate and assert 
a false profession of their real tenets when in 
presence of the opposite schism ; but the Soonee 
being an ardent and unyielding enthusiast, is called 
upon by his faith to assert his belief under every 
circumstance, and maintain his creed by the sword 
— the readiest, most potent, and effective argument 



AVGHANISTAUN. 165 

that could be devised. All who deny the Prophet 
are infidels, deserving death, and their polemics 
prohibit discussions upon an article of faith. To 
argue is to imply a momentary concession of 
doubt, and this would be evidence of blasphemy, 
which calls for the instant expiation of blood. The 
Ameer is a fanatic in profession, but not a bigot in 
practice, which character confirms the charge of 
hypocrisy. He avoids the discussion of doctrinal 
points or religious matters no less amongst his own 
Moolahs* than Christians who may visit his court, 
and is noted for tact in turning a discourse which 
has a tendency to create irascible feehngs on 
sacred subjects, even when he may not have been 
an interlocutor. He is remarkable for delicacy of 
expression, and politeness of modesty in argument 
on all subjects, and patient of contradiction even 
when delivered with asperity. He has no honesty in 
any sense, no morals, no piety ; a liar in the com- 
pletest sense of the word ; subtle, cunning, timorous, 
and governed in all things, sacred and profane, 
political and civil, moral and physical, by interest, 
social, sensual, and avaricious interest : this word 
is the key to his character, the test of his motives. 
In pursuit of his interests he is crafty and un- 
principled. His personal comfort he essays with 
recklessness of human sufl?ering. His sensuality is 
unbounded, but offensive only to himself. Avarice is 
the motive that engrosses his soul. For the gratifi- 
cation of this abominable vice he cares not for the 
shedding of human blood ; otherwise he is not cruel, 
although the greatest and most inhuman violence 
has been committed under his countenance and 

* The clergy are so designated. 



166 INDIA AND 

authority in the extortion of gold. Mercy is the 
least of all considerations with him, and he has 
never been known to act with clemency or gene- 
rosity when the accumulation of gold was the 
question at issue. For the purpose of discovering 
suppositious or hidden wealth, torture was inflicted 
in barbarous and horrible forms, not unfrequently 
terminating in the death of the sufferer. 

As a financier the Ameer's ideas were purely 
oriental. Our own politicians have said that the 
Toorks surpass in this respect their Christian 
neighbours, and are better fiscal agents than the 
systematic Europeans. Instances in illustration 
have been adduced, and the facility noticed with 
which the Grand Porte was able to pay an im- 
mense sum of tribute to Russia at a time when the 
resources of the empire were supposed to be totally 
exhausted. The space of time within which the 
operation was accomplished, astonished the poli- 
ticians of Europe ; nevertheless there is a great 
doubt whether their method of finance can be called 
better than our own : their fiscal economy is based 
on an agrarian system, and the increase of taxation 
falls suddenly and universally on an impoverished 
community, aggravating the national distress 
through individual misery out of all proportion to 
the amount of revenue derived. When the re- 
sources of the land revenue fail, — and they are 
frequently impaired by an unfavourable season or 
unexpected demand above the ordinary tribute, — 
the oriental princes, who are all despotic, mulct 
their subjects, and the scourge and bastinado are 
the instruments of fiscal economy, who lend their 
aid to extort the last pittance from the wretched 
cultivator of the soil. Thousands of the populace 



AVGHANISTAUN. 167 

are reduced to poverty and extreme want, and many 
even sold into slavery to liquidate the demands of an 
exacting prince ; and this has been the system of the 
East from the days of Pharaoh, — " when money 
failed in the land they brought their cattle," and when 
their herds and their flocks were also gone, they sold 
themselves into bondage. This has been the Turk- 
ish system for ages, and there is matter of amaze- 
ment in reflecting on the resources of the Greeks, 
the wreck of whose dominions could for nearly 
four hundred years sustain the rapacity of these 
conquerors of the eastern empire, and the exhaust- 
ing, destructive, depopulating, and unrenovating 
practices of the Toorks. This is the system which 
is now, and has been, from the beginning of their 
power in Europe, destroying that empire " without 
hand," as Daniel says. Upon the establishment of 
their power in Europe they became an agricultural 
and deteriorating community. They relinquished 
their principles of accumulation when they no 
longer remained a military and predatory people. 
The habits upon which their social system was 
based being those of rapine, war, and plunder, have 
remained in practice, whilst those self-destroying 
elements have had no other field for operation than 
their own possessions, and jfe/o de se is their destiny, 
notwithstanding the conflict of England against 
fate in her policy of maintaining the integrity of 
the Ottoman empire; of sustaining the commander 
of the faithful, the vicegerent of Mahomed, " the man 
of fierce countenance, ivho magnified himself unto 
the prince of the host, and stood up against the 
prince of princes, he shall be broken without hand." 
In regard to commerce, the Ameer was impressed 
with the advantages which encouragement of that 



168 INDIA AND 

sort of enterprise imparts to a country ; but his 
necessities were of a nature to constrain his desire 
of acting with good faith towards the commercial 
community. The nominal duties were apportioned 
according to the injunctions of their great lawgiver ; 
the tariff was two and a half per cent on the pro- 
perty of the faithful, and five upon that of infidels, 
levied ad valorem or specific at the option of the 
merchant, and in either instance received in kind. 
The claims of equity asserted by the trader were 
frequently overruled by the clamour of exigency, and 
pretexts were readily suggested to excuse extraor- 
dinary demands on the part of the prince. Open 
violence was avoided, and no justification allowed 
to the merchant for the charge of robbery, with 
which matter-of-fact persons, who contemplated re- 
sults more than the ostentatious display of assumed 
principles, were disposed to stigmatize the discre- 
pancies of a necessitous financier. The Ameer 
would gain his object through the medium of 
friendship and brotherhood, consistently with the 
Persian pohcy, " if you would ruin any one, first 
become his friend," — far example: his highness 
never hesitated inviting himself to an evening visit 
at the house of a wealthy merchant, v^hen with 
profuse protestations of regard, amongst which 
the words " friend" and " brother" w^ere promi- 
nent, he modestly begged a loan on a quantity of 
household jewels. The merchant, who compre- 
hended the whole process of finesse which his high- 
ness had in reserve, immediately proposed to lend 
the money on the Ameer's note of hand or his 
honour ; preferring to make a merit of necessity, 
he wished to seem gratuitously complying and libe- 
ral, when he knew that if he accepted the jewels as 



AVGHANISTAUN. 169 

security from the prince, the ruling power in the 
haram would bully them out of his possession ; for 
as the wife would solicit the jewels, to whom could 
the merchant appeal ? To the prince ! Complain 
to the prince of his own favourite wife ! Etiquette 
forbade the proceeding, and might recommended 
submissive despair. Hours have sometimes passed 
in these visits, lengthened out by the prince call- 
ing for tea, and smoking the callioon ; and there 
he sat, with the comfortable familiarity of a wel- 
come guest, provokingly condescending in pertina- 
cious design, the host feeling like the bird with a 
blacksnake in its nest, vainly strugglinor with the 
fatal fascination of his intrusive guest. When every 
imaginable subterfuge had been fruitlessly attempted 
by the victim of avarice, exhausted with his own 
exertions he was drawn in like a trout on a line in 
the hands of an expert and patient sportsman ; he 
saw with fish-eyed apathy his golden scales depart, 
and blessed his happiness in the salvation of his skin ; 
for the Ameer neither killed nor skinned when the 
fish relinquished his scales, but slipped the Jin''d ani- 
mal into his element again, where he repaired at 
leisure the rubs of destiny. 

Such is the Ameer Dost Mahomed, whom the 
Enghsh lately deposed from the sovereignty of Ca- 
bul. There is no doubt that in doing so they widely 
deviated from the line of prudence, and involved 
themselves in a policy which has already cost mil- 
lions to establish, and will cost many millions to 
sustain. The Avghans, who are deeply interested 
in the late political events, which have given a new 
character to the Indo-British empire, have been 
driven by a system of perfidy, oppression, and false 
faith to the extremity of social misery. An inde- 
pendent community, which under the oligarchical 



170 INDIA AND 

form of Dost Mahomed's government, possessed the 
freedom to which they have always been accus- 
tomed, was subjected to an unHmited mihtary de- 
spotism, and kept in subjugation by the British bayo- 
net ; their stronghold garrisoned by a foreign army ; 
iheir reHgious and political institutions subverted, 
and their country conquered by an infidel power. 
But the possession of Avghanistaun by England has 
been transient and probationary of the oppressed. 



Note. — That the English agent left Cabul without having 
arranged a treaty with Dost Mahomed, which should have secured 
the friendship of the Avghans, was certainly not owing to any aver- 
sion on the part of the Ameer. When the didactic and imperative 
ultimatum of Lord Auckland was handed to the Ameer, in which 
his highness saw the frustration of his hopes, for he was decidedly 
in favour of an English alliance, although he allowed his policy to 
be swayed by the Kizzlebashe or Persian interest, a general council 
was called. The document was handed to me amongst others ; 
I satisfied myself, by the Governor-General's signature, of its 
authenticity, surveying the contents with extreme surprise and 
disappointment. Dost Mahomed was mortified, but not terrified. 
He always reassured himself that he had no occasion for appre- 
hending alarm from the English, so long as Runjeet'h could 
maintain his independence. For to the native mind, the possession 
of power, without the exertion of authority is tantamount to im- 
becility, and the mere existence of the Panjab as an independent 
principality in the presence of a powerful neighbour, was indubi- 
table evidence of that neighbour's unsustained repute. His high- 
ness never conceived that the English, who have great celebrity for 
utilitarian operations in their political enterprises, would project the 
invasion of Cabul through Kandhar, first subduing Scind, and sur- 
mounting the sterile wastes, the intricate mountain passes, and 
waterless deserts of Beloochistaun. The sufifering to the troops and 
destruction of camp followers, and loss of baggage, recalls to mind 
the similar march of Alexander through Gedrosia, a part of the 
same country. A column of Alexander's army, returning from 
India, pursued this identical route, lately traversed by the army 
of the Indus. With the enemy at the gates of Cabul, the defection 
of his feudal chiefs, dissensions of his council, and desertions 
of his troops, all the result of British gold, and diplomatic pro- 
mises, the obligarchy was dissolved, the ancient regime established 



AVGHANISTAUN. 171 

and sustained by British bayonets, absolutely without a contested 
campaign. 

The Governor-Generars ultimatum was handed around, and an 
embarrassing silence ensued. A few minutes elapsed when Mirza 
Semme Khan recalled the party from abstraction. This indivi- 
dual, the leader of the Kizzlebashe party, had all along been re- 
markable for his asperity in combating tlie Prince's inclination 
towards the English alliance. He was of Persian descent and a 
schismatic Sheah, whose vindictive soul ever moved with enthu- 
siastic hatred of the English, now opposed their agent, who had 
not bribed him to the full amount of his expectation. He pro- 
claimed that the Governor-General's ultimatum left no other alter- 
native than the dismission of the English agent, for the spirit of the 
Kizzlebashe party was supercilious and unyielding, though full of 
duplicity. The British negotiator made great promises to this influ- 
ential body, no one of which was subsequently realized, and they 
were to a man not only exasperated to revenge the insult thus 
levelled at their community, which was of praetorian importance, 
but stimulated by the necessity of sustaining their order, and of pro- 
viding for their subsistence, which had been cut off by the new form 
of government. Nieb Mahomed Ameer Khan Akhoond Zadab, who 
was an Avghan of the Barikzye tribe, stood high in the Ameer's 
estimation, and exercised great influence as the organ of the 
Avghan interest. He also held the appointment of Governor of 
Cabul, and was numbered amongst the chief supporters of the 
Ameer's family. He combined the character of a secretary of 
state, and a military chief. On this occasion he openly opposed 
the Kizzlebashe party, and urged many weighty arguments in 
favour of a pacific settlement of the Ameer's relations with the 
British government, which had now assumed a position so inaus- 
picious, he concluded his oration with these words, addressing the 
Ameer, " Imkaun n'daried ta Shuma Harlan Sahebra der mean 
i een Sakhun N'aree bayed Kaeera, Nuzd i Burnes Saheb, 
b'freese, wo mokudimat i toora, az ukklewo, rah i Khood i ahel 
fering drust Kirda Khwahedad"— There is no other resource for 
you but to introduce Mr. Harlan in the negotiations with Mr. 
Burnes, and he, through his own facihties and wisdom, will 
arrange a treaty, according to their European usage, for the pacific 
and advantageous settlement of your affairs — and to this propo- 
sition the council unanimously assented. An official note was 
immediately despatched to Burnes's secretary, conveying intima- 
tion of the resolution, and by return of the messenger, an official 
response was received indirectly declining the proposition, by de- 
ferring the measure to a more convenient opportunity of time. 
The council dispersed, and I wrote to the English agent a letter, 
referring to the Ameer's previous official communication, investing 



172 INDIA AND AVGHANISTAUN. 

me with power to treat, containing a proposal to negotiate upon his 
own terms. The reply I received was personally friendly, but I 
was much astounded that it evinced a deficiency of knowledge 
of first principles concerning the rights of independent powers 
in political negotiations. I could not have believed that a gentle- 
man of liberal education, and ordinary talent for observation, was 
so totally ignorant of equity and the laws of nations as to make 
the assertions and pretext he urged to excuse and justify his refusal 
to recommence negotiations with the Ameer, although officially 
proposed upon his own terms I * * * * * 



APPENDIX. 



I. 

The following extracts from The Atlas, an English 
paper of authentic resources, were written before 
the massacre of the Anglo-Indian army en route 
from Cabul to Jillalabad, but are still applicable to 
the state of affairs up to our last accounts in regard 
to Sale's position. 

" With regard to our position at Jillalabad, reports 
of disasters and despair have been as abundant as 
they are at variance with each other. Our own 
correspondents seem to consider the gallant band 
under the command of General Sale at that place 
far from exposed to the imminent peril apprehended 
by some. There was no scarcity of provisions ; 
there was a good supply of ammunition, and relief 
would, no doubt, be speedily afforded. The tone of 
the private letter on the subject published in last 
Saturday's Atlas, combined with the general tenor 
of others which have appeared in the columns of our 
contemporaries, will eminently tend, we trust, to allay 
the fears which we are led sanguinely to hope have 
been prematurely excited. 



174 APPENDIX. 

" Jillalabad is situated in lat. 34° 4' N., long. 70° 37 ' 
E., and lies about ninety miles due east of Cabul — 
the scene of the insurrection. The strength of our 
position was manifest, and tended to confirm the 
hope cherished of the perfect safety of our force in 
the fort, and their stout resistance in the event of a 
siege. A reperusal of the private letter published 
in our last would aid in still more clearly demon- 
strating the stirring scene." 

" We have received several letters from our cor- 
respondents in India regarding the state of affairs 
in Avghanistaun. The following is an extract from 
one of them, which furnishes a graphic description 
of a stirring event : 

" ' You will have heard of the clouded aspect of 
affairs in Avghanistaun — Sir Alexander Burnes mur- 
dered, with his brother and some other British offi- 
cers ; Sir W. M'Naghten, with half our troops, shut 
up in Cabul ; General Sale, with the other half, 
shut up in Jillalabad ; the whole country in arms ; 
the passes closed, so that we only get occasional 
reports, with now and then a letter. The country 
had just been reported perfectly quiet by Sir A. 
Burnes. Sir W. M'Naghten, taking advantage, it 
is said, of such tranquillity, persuaded the imbecile 
shah to withhold the indulgence of a remission of 
revenue which the hill tribes had enjoyed time im- 
memorial, as black mail, for keeping open the passes. 
These wild tribes flew to arms, and shut up, first the 
Khoord Cabul pass, which leads from Cabul to Jilla- 
labad. Sale was sent to force it, which he did with 
great loss of officers and men. The Europeans were 
almost beaten. The enemy's loss was nothing ; 
they closed on the rearguard and baggage ; our 
sepoys behaved nobly. As soon as Sale cleared the 



APPENDIX. 175 

pass it was closed in his rear, and he was cut off 
from Cabul with little ammunition or provision. The 
return was impossible in the face of the enemy, now 
grown bold by what must have been to them a vic- 
tory. He fell back on Jillalabad, and, after giving 
up the cantonment, shut himself up with his little 
band in the walled town, where he was beleaguered. 
He appears to have made a successful sally until 
the 14th of November, particulars not known; but 
I learn that a body of 6,000 men were dispersed on 
the occasion. On the 1st instant (December) Azeez 
Khan invested the place with 4,000 men, who moved 
on to a general attack, confining themselves chiefly 
to the low broken grounds under the river bank. 
Their skirmishers crossed to within twenty yards 
of the walls, and even fired through our loopholes. 
They taunted us and defied us, (says my corre- 
spondent, who is one of the confined at Jillalabad), 
to come out, little thinking their request would so 
soon be complied with. At noon of the 15th the 
Cabul gate was thrown open, and out dashed 800 
infantry, followed by 200 cavalry and two guns. 
The enemy broke ground and fled. The cavalry 
cut to pieces about 100 on the plain to the left. On 
the right, the infantry could not catch the fugitives, 
but, the ground being good, Captain Abbott took his 
guns forward at a gallop, and crossed their columns 
with a fire that sent them all down into the river's 
bed. Had the infantry now been able to close, the 
whole, or nearly the whole, of Azeez Khan's force, 
must have been cut to pieces. Captain Abbott now^ 
took his guns to the brink of the high bank which 
falls into the river, and made some excellent prac- 
tice among the dense masses that crowded the fords. 
Many were killed, and more drowned by missing 



176 APPENDIX. 

the fords in their haste. Sale now sent a peremp- 
tory order for retirement, and the troops fell back 
upon Jillalabad. The enemy showed symptoms of 
rallying, and a body of horsemen hovered at a dis- 
tance upon our rear. The guns moved back to 
within 1400 yards, at which distance a round shot 
emptied two saddles, and compelled the whole gang 
to fly. A few more shot dispersed one or two other 
bodies, and our little band returned to Jillalabad. 
Shah Newaz Khan and another chief were killed in 
the cannonade, and about 300 small fry. The whole 
force decamped, and our friends expected eight or 
ten days' peace. Provisions were pouring in, and 
my correspondent speaks with great confidence of 
their safety, if means are taken in India for their 
timely relief I give you a sketch of the scene, 
taken on the spot. It is roughly done, but explains 
affairs very clearly, notwithstanding the passes are 
not open. I know not how my correspondent's 
letter came. He says — ' An attempt being made 
to send letters, &c. &c., I shall keep my journal for 
a safer opportunity.' 

"'P.S. (21st Dec.) — Dost Mahomed has been 
caught intriguing with the rebels of Avghanistaun, 
telling them to hold out, for that he has passed 
through all the chief stations, and seen the troops. 
Thus the country is so drained for Avghanistaun 
that we cannot succour our countrymen ; so that 
the rebels have only to put those down who are in 
the country, and the day is their own.' " 

" The following is a copy of a letter from a pri- 
vate correspondent relative to our reverses in Av- 
ghanistaun. We give publicity to his remarks for 
two reasons — viz., on account of his former resi- 
dence among the people of whom he speaks, and 



APPENDIX. 177 

consequent knowledge of their character ; and be- 
cause the subject occupies much pubHc attention at 
the present crisis : 

" ' The news from India by the last mail is cer- 
tainly very appalHng with respect to affairs in 
Avghanistaun, but just the style of thing I antici- 
pated, and I do not see how it is possible to remedy 
the evil without immediate increase to the army. 

" ' My letters from Quettah mention that all is at 
present quiet there, and that a reinforcement of a 
wing of a Bombay regiment had arrived with some 
artillery. I very much fear, however, that the 
Avghan tribes in that neighbourhood will not remain 
passive, but join their brethren in rebellion, and 
render the passage of the Bolan more formidable 
than ever, and thus prove the policy of keeping an 
efficient brigade at Quettah. In that position the 
troops would bd at once available for service towards 
Kandahar, but in their progress from Scinde, if 
opposed in the Bolan pass, would be sadly crippled 
before they reached Kandahar. A depot of stores 
of every description should, in my opinion, be formed 
at Quettah in case of future need. 

" ' The tribe of Avghans called the Doomur Ka- 
kurs, attached to the Bolan rangers, have, I under- 
stand, absconded. This looks bad, and leaves a 
painful impression on my mind that the religious 
hatred of the Mahometans towards the " Infidel 
Feringees" is more general than the many ima- 
gine.' " 

12 



178 APPENDIX. 



11. 



Illustration of a text from Daniel^ xi. 45, sliowing the 
accordance of prophecy with history in reference to the 
Ottoman empire. 

The following lecture on the present condition of 
Islam or the Mahomedan faith in Mosleman com- 
munities, has been traced out for the purpose of 
gratifying the laudable wishes of pious inquirers 
who have desired to be made acquainted with the 
points of Mahomedanism, corresponding with our 
Christian faith, in reference to the vital truths of 
prophecy that foretell the advent of Christ. The 
text I have selected suggests the importance of the 
inquiry, and leads us to consider this imposing sub- 
ject in a view highly interesting to all men. The 
eleventh chapter of Daniel concludes with this sen- 
tence, " Yet he shall come to his end, and none shall 
help him ;" and to elucidate this text, I propose 
offering a few remarks : 

" Yet he shall come to his end, and none shall 
help him." — Daniel, xi. 45. 

The affairs of the East, during several years, 
have occupied a prominent position in the field of 
European diplomacy. It is well known how much 
the attention of poHticians has been engaged by 
events lately passed and still in progress in the 
Turkish empire, in Constantinople, Egypt, and Sy- 
ria. The growing power, and the hostile attitude 
of Mahomed Ali Pasha, in relation to the head of 
the Ottoman empire, caused the Grand Porte to 
solicit the protection of Russia against the invasion 



APPENDIX. 179 

of Egypt. The Emperor of Russia was enabled to 
afford with readiness and facility a guarantee against 
the threatened dangers of civil war, as the rebellion 
of Egypt would have been. The proximity of the 
Russian army, and the stipulations of treaties, offen- 
sive and defensive, existing between these powers 
presented the pretext for foreign interference. 
Constantinople was about to be placed under the 
control of Russian troops, and Russian policy would 
ultimately have reigned in the capital of the East. 
The city of Constantinople would have again be- 
come the seat of the Greek hierarchy; the Patri- 
arch of the Greek church once more restored to 
the possession of his sacred rights and sacerdotal 
immunities ; the cross, long prostrate beneath the 
crescent, exalted in its place ; the venerated church 
of St. Sophia, whose dome was called the second 
heaven, and adored by the eastern Christians, puri- 
fied from infidel pollution, would have been hailed 
by a grateful multitude of Christian pilgrims, and 
a flood of incidents followed, all bearing on the 
present dignity of the Christian church and the 
future welfare of Christianity. But the conflicting 
interests of England and Russia instigated the 
British government to assume an active part in the 
affairs of the East, and the integrity of the Turkish 
empire, the old ally of England, became a principle 
of their policy, which, to neutralize Russian influence 
at the Porte, the English pledged themselves with 
the courteous assistance of Austria and Prussia, to 
maintain. It is this principle, "the integrity of 
the Turkish empire," which constitutes the Eastern 
Question. The three other great European powers, 
France, Austria, and Prussia, were invited by 



180 APPENDIX. 

Russia and England to become parlies to a treaty 
having for its object the integrity of the Turkish 
empire. But the doom of the Turks, so long the 
second wo of Christendom, was already written in 
prophetic characters, and the power of man abides 
not before the will of God.* 

England's insufficient justification of her unchris- 
tian policy in using her arms for the resubjugation 
of Syria, a great part of whose population is of the 
Christian church, to a Mahomedan power, repelling 
Egypt and re-establishing the government of the 
Turks, the head of all Mahomedan communities, is 
a libel on the Christian name. It deserves our re- 
probation and calls for the vengeance of heaven. 
Why should not the Christian population of Syria 
also be permitted, like the Greeks, the privilege of 
forming an independent kingdom. The mountain 
districts of Syria are now in rebellion against the 
newly re-established power of their Mahomedan 

* This Eastern Question is, probably, one amongst many other 
palpable causes (of which the cholera was also one) arising from 
the relations of Europe with the East that operates to suspend the 
judgments of the four angels represented in the vision of John : 
" I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, 
holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow 
on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saiv another 
angel ascending from the East, having the seal of the living God, 
and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was 
given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, 
neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of 
our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them 
who were sealed : and there were sealed an hundred and forty- 
four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.'''' — Rev. 
vii. 1 — 4. These causes will continue in force until the reor- 
ganization of the Jewish nation, and the restoration of the twelve 
tribes must precede the general war predicted as the immediate 
consequence of the time of the end of Mahomedanism, or destruc- 
tion of Islam, by the cessation of Turkish rule. 



APPENDIX. 181 

rulers, and the Sooltaun has never been equal to 
the conquest of these refractory nnountaineers. Has 
justice ceased upon the eartli, and shall Syria be 
again enslaved by the Turkish wo ? Syria, upon 
whose shores our connmon ancestors toiled and 
fought for the honour of the church, and sweat 
blood upon the sterile sands of an imploring nation, 
with the nriotto upon their banners " Vult Deus," 
it is the will of God — Syria, so dear to the remi- 
niscences of every Christian ; a name now despised, 
dishonoured, polluted, and desecrated by infidel rule, 
oppressed by the Moslem race, who are abetted 
and sustained in their tyrannies by the descendants 
of CcEUR DE Liopf, that warrior of the faith who 
contemned a kingdom for the conquest of a Sa- 
viour's tomb — by England, whose holy wars in Pa- 
lestine attested the noble enthusiasm of a Christian 
host, who, led by the master-spirit of chivalry, 
failed not, in the inhospitable and desert wilderness, 
to rally at the beseeching voice of Christian crying 
unto Christian. But the days of CcEur de Lion are 
passed away ; the chivalry of Malta is extinct, 
thou2:h Ensland still retains the title of " Defender 
of the faith," which, with her Oriental policy, seems 
a mockery of our forefathers. Defender of the 
faith indeed she is; truly may England's Queen be 
termed commander of the faithful, from her pro- 
tecting influence upon the integrity of the Turkish 
empire. We lament that the days are past when 
Europe once emptied her population into Asia in 
crusades against the false prophet. The flame of 
enthusiasm is superseded by the pen of diplomacy; 
the battles of the faith, no longer urged by ardent 
votaries, are left to the management of cool dehbe- 



182 APPENDIX. 

rate expediency ; and the interests of Christianity are 
compromised by the commercial relations of modern 
states. Anticipated terror of Russian supremacy 
drives the British government into a system of dis- 
honourable policy that confounds the church with 
secular interests, wickedly preferring these to the 
awful responsibiUty entailed by the command of 
Christ, and the hereditary behests of our ancestors.* 
The five great powers of the evangeUzed world 
strive for the maintenance of the Moslem pestilence, 
and their object is, the integrity of the Turkish 
empire; to assist and help the Sooltaun. "Yet 
he shall come to his end, and 7io7ie shall help him." 
A short review of the present condition of Maho- 
medan governments, the causes of the decay of 
their political power, their traditions concerning the 
advent of the Saviour and the proximate dissolution 
of the Turkish empire, forcibly illustrates our text 
and several other passages of prophecy. 

Before the final destruction of Mahomedanism 
it is said, Daniel, xi. 44, '* But tidings out of the 
East and out of the JVorth^ shall trouble him." 

* The fierce crusader's brandished spear, 
The vengeful sword, the voice of seer 

We see, we hear, we feel no more. 
Unhallowed age, unchasten'd race, 
Would'st thou, dar'st thou, seek for grace, 

Behold the prophet's mystic lore. 

t A line drawn from Constantinople to Pekin will divide the 
East betwixt England and Russia ; the countries, excepting Persia, 
and it may now be added, Avghanistaun, south of the limit, falling 
to the former, whilst Russia emphatically rules in the north, with- 
out exception ; her predominance in Persia exhibiting her political 
supremacy in the East no less than her geographical superiority. 
Of her prophetic position let the context speak. 



APPENDIX. 183 

From the repeated assaults which have been made 
by Russia on the north, by Persia and the rebellion 
of dependent provinces and vi<:e-royalties on the 
east, the Turkish empire has become circumscribed 
almost within the wails of Constantinople, and her 
foreign relations now show this prophecy of Daniel 
has been fulfilled. We have seen also the Turks 
" go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to 
make away many ;" and how they have planted 
" the tabernacles of their palaces between the seas 
in the glorious holy mountain," in the late war of 
the Ottomans and their European allies against 
Egypt, Syria, Bagdad, and Damascus, which coun- 
tries lie between the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, 
the Persian Gulf, and Red Sea; and we may calmly 
rest in the anticipation that the last sentence will be 
speedily followed out ; " Yet he shall come to his 
end, and none shall help him." The period of the 
dissolution of the Turkish empire being nigh at 
hand — as we are taught by prophecy to believe, 
and by the history of the world to perceive and 
understand — it becomes an affair of the deepest 
interest to ascertain by the signs of the times the 
period wfien this important event is to take place, 
because the knowledge thereof forebodes a position 
of the world which involves the eternal happiness 
of mankind. The time of the event, however, it is 
not so important to be acquainted with, as the con- 
viction of its certainty; because it is said, "Be- 
hold, I come as a thief;" consequently the exact 
time must be doubtful; we should therefore always 
be prepared. We are reproved by the Saviour for 
not observing coming events when indicated by the 
signs of the times ; and if the political signs of these 
times lead us to a just inference of the probable 



184 APPENDIX. 

speedy destruction of the Turldsh empire, we shall 
be subject to the reproof of lukewarmness by allow- 
ing them to pass unnoticed; to the charge of apathy 
in reference to a condition of life which affects the 
salvation of our souls. Moreover, could we prove 
the period now is when he shall come to his end ; by 
that result we should illuminate the dormant sense 
of prophecy, and illustrate the object for which the 
word of inspiration was given to the world ; for it 
is written "the words are closed up and sealed till 
the time of the end ;" Daniel, xii. 9 ; also verse 10th, 
" and none of the wicked shall understand, but the 
wise shall understand." How essential then that we 
should labour to understand, when the signs of the 
times solicit our attention, that we may not be num- 
bered aiTQongst those who shall not understand, but 
try to assume a position amongst the wise, who shall 
understand at the time of the end. I shall endeavour 
to show that by the present state of Islam, we are 
justified in the opinion of the time of the end being 
at hand ; and the consequent awful responsibility we 
incur from indifference, and the moral obligation of 
inquiring into, and understanding as the wise shall 
understand. 

It is one of the cardinal points of the Mahomedan 
faith that church and state cannot exist separately, 
and independent of each other. The principle is 
known in their commentaries and traditions by the 
epithet " Deen and Dunia," the first signifying reli- 
gion and the ceremiOnies thereof, and Dunia their 
secular obligations. Their religion is intimately and 
systematically mixed up with their secular policy. 
The Sooltaun is the head of their religion, as he is 
of their government, and the authority of their chief, 
who is both Pope and Emperor, has been delegated 



APPENDIX. 185 

with ceremonies of authentic investiture from 
Mahomed, the founder of their false doctrine ; con- 
sequently, on the dissolution of the Ottoman empire, 
or cessation of Turkish rule, there will virtually and 
'prophetically be a termination of the Moslem faith ; 
and this religion must cease, with the political 
power, to exist as an independent principle in the 
social condition of the world. 

It has been generally supposed that the reign- 
ing family of Constantinople is descended from 
the Prophet of Arabia. This belief is an error. 
The sooltaun is of Toorkey, not of Arab blood, 
as he should be if the reverse was true. He is 
the lineal representative of Toghrul Beg, a cha- 
racter well known in Oriental history, and famous 
in the annals of our ecclesiastical economy. Toghrul 
was a Tatar prince, who received the investiture of 
" commander of the faithful" from Ul Keim, the last 
of the Khuleefas, who reigned at Bagdad. On the 
ceremony of presentation, this prince, being ad- 
vanced to the station of Mahomed's vicegerent upon 
earth, was decorated by Ul Keim with two swords 
- — the sword of the faith and the sword of state. 
He received seven dresses of honour, and seven 
female slaves were conferred upon him, represent- 
ing the " huft ukleem," or seven climates, a term 
which, in Asiatic phraseology, or imaginative geo- 
graphy, signifies the known world, over which the 
commander of the faithful was commissioned to 
hold dominion; and he was expressly charged with, 
and stimulated to, the conquest of the Christian 
powers of Europe. The descendants of Toghrul 
were subsequently, in prophetic language, bound in 
the Euphrates ; and the princes of this dynasty re- 
present, with their hosts, the four angels who were 



186 APPENDIX. 

"prepared, for an hour and a day and a naonth and 
a year, for to slay the third part of man." 

From the period of the last of the Khuleefas their 
power became hereditary in the family of Toghrul, 
and has been handed down through an uninterrupted 
and unprecedented succession of human glory to 
the present imbecile occupant of a tottering throne : 
this power may be deputed but cannot be usurped. 
Previous to the European conquests of the Turks, 
,the flame of bigotry and Moslem enthusiasm raged 
with irresistible fury and overwhelming desolation. 
Empires were overthrown ; dominions crushed ; and 
the sword and Koran made the rule of social order 
throughout a great part of Asia, and several Euro- 
pean kingdoms were also subjugated to Mahomedan 
sway ; but from the period of the conquest of Con- 
stantinople by Mahmood ul Saney, (?". e. Mahmood 
the Second,) the high-strained principle of general 
intolerance that sustained and extended their faith 
has gradually declined, and the late innovations in 
jurisprudence and the military system of the Turks 
provethe official indifference of the commander of the 
faithful to the alleged sanctity of his national institu- 
tions. With the Turks to reform is to destroy, because 
the Koran, which is the base of all their laws, leaves 
no optional or discretionary power in the executive ; 
neither is there any admission of a renovating pro- 
cess to repair the decay and oblivion of institutions 
stationary in the progressive march of mind ;* the 



* Thus Spain and other Roman Catholic countries, owing to 
their assumption of infallibility in religion, are still stationary in 
civilization, compared with the march of intellect evinced by the 
other kingdoms of Europe. Even France is oppressed with the 
Roman Catholic doctrine, which prevents the advance of civiliza- 
tion among nations no less than Mahomedanism, 



APPENDIX. 



187 



prescriptions of the Koran are absolute, and should 
be administered now as they were ages past, when 
the star of the Prophet intensely glared upon the 
false professors of an apostate church, of a trans- 
gressing and idolatrous race. A public firman of 
the commander of the faithful has virtually displaced 
the authority of the Koran, and all religions are 
now, by the command of the Mahomedan Khuleefa 
or high priest, equal before the laws. 

The population of the Moslem world is rapidly 
decreasing. The causes which produce this decay 
are evident to those acquainted with the laws, the 
manners, and the customs of the people. The 
tyrannical and oppressive system of fiscal policy, 
which deprives the peasant of all extraneous wealth, 
accruing from the utmost stretch of labour, and leaves 
merely the miserable portion of necessary rations 
for animal subsistence, is widely destructive of 
human life. The effect of polygamy in depopu- 
lating a community is a gradual and hereditary 
evil, which, when accompanied by general mendi- 
city, ultimately operates with certain and baleful 
influence ; the discontent, divisions, and hereditary 
enmities existing in all Mahomedan families where 
the offspring of several mothers have been matured, 
leads to destructive feuds, that greatly militate 
against the fruitful increase of the community. The 
administration of justice embodies an oppressive sys- 
tem of persecution, that produces mendicity and 
want, and consequent waste of life, for bread is the 
staff thereof. Other causes still more rife in the 
havoc of the human race, but which the general 
nature of these remarks does not elicit, tend inevi- 
tably and incontestably to unpeople the Mahomedan 
world. The plague annually extends its devastating 



188 APPENDIX. 

hand over a blasted race, and the charnel battle- 
field of Moslem bigotry has been a dreadful scourge 
to the masses of the Turkish empire. There is no 
doubt that the rapid decrease of population, the rebel- 
lion of tributary provinces, and civil war, will shortly 
leave the Ottoman empire without efficient re- 
sources; and the government which borrows money 
at an interest of nine per cent, as the Turks are 
doing to pay the dividends of antecedent loans, has 
anticipated its means, and must finally and speedily 
be paralysed by the failure of nutrition. 

The chief revenue of Oriental nations is derived 
from agricultural labour, and agriculture can only 
be fully elaborated by irrigation. The apocalyptic 
symbol of the Mahomedan empire is represented 
by " the great river Euphrates," and it is probable 
the drying up of the great river Euphrates, which 
all interpreters of prophecy agree means the Moslem 
power, points to the present fiscal perplexity of the 
Turkish government, in consequence of a deficient 
agrarian revenue, occasioned in a great degree by 
the gradual decrease of the population, which is dis- 
appearing, man by man, like the drying up of a 
stream silently and drop by drop exhaled : it is a 
fitting and appropriate symbol of approaching ruin. 
These are the main causes of decay perceptible in 
the Turkish power, and must determine its final dis- 
solution, probably within a very short period. 

Traditions are current amongst the Mahomedan 
nations of the East, (which are probably derived 
from our sacred books,) distinctly alluding to the 
national characteristics of the western race as the 
conquerors of the world. They believe in the advent 
of Christ, previous to which they are instructed to 
look for the appearance of the last of the Immaums. 



APPENDIX. 189 

This person, they say, is now, and has been for ages 
in existence ; but owing to obstacles interposed by 
the immaturity of time, the desirable event is de- 
ferred to a future period. The appearance of Im- 
maum Meihdee, as the personage is designated, 
must be preceded by several signs, — an infidel of 
monstrous form and dimensions, a frightful being 
of immense stature, with one eye, known by the 
name of Dijaul, is to devastate the earth, and destroy 
the faithful in great numbers. All Mahomedan com- 
munities are to become subject to Christian sway. 
The city of Bulkh (the ancient Bactra,) is to be 
rebuilt and flourish as the capital of Central Asia. 
There are also many others. When Islam shall be- 
come almost extinct, and in point of proportion to 
its former prevalence, resemble the size of a white 
spot on the forehead of a red cow, and Dijaul shall 
sorely distress the faithful, the Immaum will appear, 
fight with the infidel, and be nearly overcome in the 
contest ; but the prospect of defeat will be speedily 
changed to the certainty of glorious victory by the 
advent of Christ, who must descend upon the roof 
of the temple of Mecca. He assists the Immaum, 
restores the fortune of battle, slays Dijaul, and con- 
verts all the world to Islam, i. e., the religion of 
peace. Thus we have Christ again bringing into 
the world peace and good-will to man. The Ma- 
homedans say, " Christ will convert the w'orld to 
their faith," but the book of traditions uses the term 
Islam, which, though it also signifies Mahomedan- 
ism, in a more extended application and literal sense 
means the religion of peace, and of this persuasion, 
say they, were the Patriarchs and all the Prophets ; 
upon this point Moslem and Christian may agree. 
The first part of this tradition is near being accom- 



190 APPENDIX. 

plished. I have heard the Prince of Cabnl remark, 
(in 1837,) " all the Mahomedan world is at this nao- 
ment subject to Christian sway, except Cabul and 
Bocharah ; when we are conquered the Imnnaum 
must appear." A year after this, Cabul was sub- 
dued by the English, and the prince a refugee in the 
States of Bocharah. 

The principalities of the Uzbeck States are now 
the only Mahomedan powers not subject to Chris- 
tian policy ; but as Russia has offensive and defen- 
sive treaties with these Uzbecks of Tatary, and 
they are commercially and geographically con- 
nected with each other, a pretext will probably not 
long be wanting to enable Russia to plant the seeds 
of her policy there, as she has done in Persia and 
all the other Mahomedan communities of Central 
Asia. The people of Cabul consoled themselves 
upon the subjugation of their country, with the 
remark that the advent of the Immaum could not 
now be far off; and at his appearance, the faith and 
liberty of the Mosleman would again flourish and 
prosper. The unsettled state of oriental governments 
has latterly stimulated impostors to assume the name 
of Immaum Meihdee, and the pretensions of any 
individual arrogating the character are readily 
accredited by the wonder-loving crowds with sur- 
prising facility. I have frequently explained to 
pious Mahomedans the story of Dijaul, as an 
allegory of ignorance which is to pervade the 
world, before the manifestation of their Imimaum, 
and the subsequent advent of the Saviour, as he is 
literally to prove in the midst of threatened defeat, 
dishonour, and death. A being monstrous in form, 
partially blind, an oppressive tyrant, and an un- 
believer in revealed religion, pervading the universe, 



APPENDIX. 191 

may be an appropriate figure of that desolating 
demon Ignorance. This negative principle is alone 
an adequate cause of the irreligion, and the evil 
polity, of the cruelty, rebellion, and oppression, to 
fill the world at the period of Christ's advent, as our 
Saviour himself has said, " nevertheless, when the 
Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth 1" 
The Mosleman generally refer with confidence to 
the coming of Dijaul, and suppose the allusion to 
this infidel is to be understood literally, though those 
to whom I offered an allegorical elucidation re- 
ceived the inference with an air of approving ad- 
miration. 

At this moment the Moslem world regard with 
intense interest the near approach of Christ's 
advent — the divine being termed in the Koran 
" Soul of God"* — who is to bring peace (Islam) 
and good-will upon earth; and the Christian mind 
is prepared to hope from the signs of the times for 
the speedy appearance of Christ, to restore true 
religion to the world, to heal the afflictions of 
man, to establish the mercy of God upon earth, to 
bless all the human race, and to execute judgment 
— " Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanks- 
giving and honour, and power, and might, be unto 
our God for ever and ever" — (Rev. vii. 12.) There 
can be no question of the decay now progressing in 
the Ottoman empire. It has been verging towards 
dissolution many centuries. Fifty years ago, Volney, 
that famous infidel traveller in the East, expressed 
and proved the truth of this event, which is now 
rapidly advancing and is within the probable inci- 
dents of daily expectation. It is a consumma- 

* Christ is the Soul of God. 



192 APPENDIX. 

tion which every Christian should devoutly 
pray for, as a forerunner of the Saviour's ma- 
nifestation. 180,000,000 Mahomedans number 
amongst the articles of their faith, the advent 
of Christ, and anticipate with zealous enthu- 
siasm the completion of their hope. Amongst the 
200,000,000 Christians who inhabit the globe, how 
mysteriously supine are the minds of almost all 
who profess to believe in the vicarious promise 
of salvation, although not to understand appertaineth 
unto the wicked, whilst the wise shall understand, 
" and they that be wise shall shine as the bright- 
ness of the firmament, and they that turn many to 
righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" — 
Dan. xii. 3. — Mahomedan tradition and Christian 
faith unite in the belief of this important event. We 
mean not to impute the divine light of inspiration to 
the Mosleman where their traditions are purely 
orio;inal — but as I observed, these traditions are 
probably derived from some distorted relation of 
the oral accounts concerning Christ's second 
advent, prevalent in the church during the earliest 
age of its existence. If the time of the end is at 
hand ; if the dissolution of the Mahomedan empire is 
about to result from the evident causes enumerated; 
if we are soon to witness the downfall of that power 
to " whom a host was given against the daily sacri- 
fice by reason of transgression," and which has 
heretofore cast down the truth to the ground, and 
practised, and prospered, to whom power was given 
to take peace from the earth ; of whom it is written, 
" yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help 
him" — no ! though all the powers of earth com- 
bine to preserve the integrity of the Mahomedan 
empire, the dissolution of that empire shall be ac- 
complished, and the word of God, which passeth not 



APPENDIX. 193 

away, shall speedily be made manifest in the regene- 
ration of man; if then, the lime now is, when we can 
understand Mahomedanism to be expiring, we should 
turn again to Dan. xii. 1, and see that " At that time 
(when he shall come to his end) shall Michael 
stand up, the great prince which standeth for the 
children of thy people, and there shall be a time of 
trouble, such as never was since there was a nation 
even to that same time, and at that time thy people 
shall be delivered every one that shall be found 
written in the book," and Rev. xvi. 12, "And the 
sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river 
Euphrates, and the water thereof was dried up, that 
the way of the Kings of the East, might he 'pre- 
pared^^ i. e., the reorganization of the Mahomedan 
empire, under Christian dynasties. And instantly it 
is said, calling our attention to the then present state 
of the world, verse 15 : " Behold I come as a thief; 
blessed is he that watcheth," and in contemporaneous 
sense it is added " and he gathered them together in 
a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.'^ 
When Constantinople shall be without a Moslem 
master, or the integrity of the Ottoman empire can 
no longer be maintained, a new arrangement must be 
made with the elements of the Mahomedan dominion. 
The existence of the British empire depends upon 
her paramount power as a maritime nation ; and 
the aggrandizement of Russia by the fruition of her 
policy, which has occupied through ages the diplo- 
macy of her government. The establishment of her 
hierarchy, and the construction of a maritime power 
stimulate Russia to the possession of Constantinople. 
By including this capital within her dominions, Rus- 
sia gains egress through the Dardanelles for a fleet, 
and her armies and navies could impinge at once 

13 



194 APPENDIX. 

upon the south of Europe, whilst St. Petersburgh 
preserved her grasp upon the North ; a position 
which would enable her to supersede England, and 
hold the balance of power in Europe. France de- 
mands Egypt. England also essentially requires she 
should hold it, to ensure undisturbed access to and 
safety of her Indian dominions. In short, the inte- 
rests of England demand that she should rule over 
Constantinople and Egypt ; whilst the interests of 
Russia require at least Constantinople, and France 
the annexation of Egypt with her dominion. How 
shall these conflicting interests be reconciled, and 
the stormy elements of war assuaged ; it is probable 
they will be gathered together at Armageddon, z. e., 
involved in bloody contention ; because it is said, 
" At that time, (the time of the dissolution of the 
Ottoman empire,) shall Michael stand up, the great 
prince which standeth for the children of thy people, 
and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never 
was since there was a nation, even to that same 
time." Then the seventh angel shall sound, and con- 
fusion, war, and death rage through the world as 
the earth's foundations tremble at the trumpet's re- 
verberation. But as the Jews will probably be re- 
established in Jerusalem before the general war 
predicted, we may suppose that a congress of the 
five great European powers will quickly proceed to 
establish independent kingdoms of the wreck of the 
Ottoman empire, and place them, like Greece, under 
Christian dynasties, and these newly-arranged king- 
doms will be under the patronage of a European 
diet or congress, until the time of the end, and the 
angel, which we have seen has been so long rising 
in the East, shall have accomplished his mission, 
which refers to the reorganization of the Jewish 



APPENDIX. 195 

nation. Then the four angels standing on the four 
corners of the earth, no longer stayed in judgment, 
shall develope the final scene of strife and ultimate 
happiness of the human race, " when lo, a great 
multitude, which no man could number, of all na- 
tions, and kindred, and people, and tongues, stood 
before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed 
with white robes and palms in their hands." 
Rev. vii. 9. 

It is an incident worthy of remark, that the por- 
tending event of the Jews' restoration is entrusted 
to the protection and support of Michael, the great 
prince, who standeth for their nation. This name, 
as the Russians have the chief part to act, may refer 
to the commander-in-chief of the Russian armies, 
and point to Michael the Grand Duke, (great 
prince,) the emperor's brother ; or it may refer to 
his imperial majesty's son of the same name, title, 
and designation. Michael, when mentioned in Scrip- 
ture, is supposed to signify an archangel ; that may 
be true, yet no inconsistency implicating the design 
of prophecy would be suggested by the hypothesis 
that the name means, in this instance, Michael the 
Grand Duke (of Russia). The time now is when 
those who run may read. There is a great running 
to and fro, and knowledge has increased to an ex- 
tent never before known to the world ; events cha- 
racterizing the present age, and connecting it with 
the days of Daniel, — a great revolution, affecting 
the social and religious condition of the human race, 
the eternal salvation of mankind, is about to take 
place, " and blessed is he that watcheth," for " be- 
hold, I come as a thief." 



196 APPENDIX. 



III. 



EXPLANATORY OF THE MAP. 



Dreadful intelligence from Cabul. — Entire destruc- 
tion of the British Cahid forces. — One European 
escaped.* 

Bombay, March 1. 

Advices from Bombay to the 1st inst. mention 
that the British troops, under a convention with 
Akhbar Khan, chief of the rebels, quitted their en- 
campment on the 6th of January, and immediately 
after w^ere engaged by the rebels, their rear being 
first attacked. In the course of three or four days, 
in which communications were carried on with the 
Chief, and the ladies given up, as well as several 
officers as hostages, the troops were fiercely engaged, 
the Chief pretending that he could not restrain 
them. Finally the sepoys succumbed, then Her 
Majesty's 44th. All ranks rushed towards Jellala- 
bad, but only one European reached that city. 

The news from Jellalabad is more cheering. Ge- 
neral Sale's position has not been attacked. They 
have provisions enough till April. Reinforcements 
are expected to arrive in February. 

AVGHANISTAUN. 

The following letter from our correspondent in 
Bombay will be found to supply full details of the 
melancholy reverses our arms had sustained beyond 
the Indus. The letter is dated March 1, and brings 

* From the London Times of April 4th, 1842. 



APPENDIX. 197 

down the narrative of events to the departure of the 
mail : 

" The insurrection, which is described as partici- 
pating in a great measure of the religious enthu- 
siasm to which the fanatical Moslems can be excited 
by the preaching of their Imauns, broke out on the 
night of the 1st of November, when Sir Alexander 
Burnes, and his brother, and Captain Broadfoot of 
the 44th were killed ; the house of the first named 
being within the city, was plundered ; and some 
money in the treasury of Captain Johnson, which 
was close to the former house, was made a prey of. 
The captain having slept in the British cantonments, 
escaped the slaughter, as well as Brigadier Anquetil 
and Captain Troup, who were his inmates. Cap- 
tains Skinner and Drummond, Captain Trevor and 
his lady and his children remained for some days 
concealed in the city by some of their friends. 

" Shah Soojah, who had on the 2d sent his son to 
the relief of Sir Alexander Burnes, where the Prince 
performed prodigies of valour, received on that day 
a communication from Sir W. H. M'Naghten, then 
in the cantonment, about five miles from the town, 
requesting leave for Brigadier-General SkeUon with 
two regiments, and Captain Nicholl's troop, to enter 
the Balla Hissar, and to shell the town. Leave was 
given, and the shelling took place. The infuriated 
populace attacked the Commissariat Fort, which 
lay immediately to the north of the town, between 
it and the cantonment, and as it was weakly de- 
fended, soon became masters of it. This was a dread- 
ful blow to the troops, as at the time there was flour 
but for two days remaining in the cantonment. 
Another fort, in which some commissariatstores were 
kept was also attacked, and after a defence of three 



198 APPENDIX. 

days by Captain Mackenzie, and a few men taken 
also, a panic appeared to have seized the troops, 
who found themselves in the beginning of winter 
shut up in their cantonments in a valley 200 miles 
from the Indus, without sufficient clothing or food, 
and amidst a fanatical Mussulman population. Even 
between the British leaders a difference of opinion 
prevailed : the Envoy being desirous of offensive 
measures, while General Elphinstone, from circum- 
stances connected with the forces, among whom 
despondency and vacillation are described as then 
prevailing, maintained his opinion for defensive ones. 
At the sohcitation of the Envoy, some small forts 
in the neighbourhood, which contained grain, were 
captured. In the meantime the news of the disper- 
sion of several of the Affghan corps in Shah Soojah's 
service, commanded by British officers, reached the 
besieged, and contributed to add to their gloomy 
prognostics. Various reverses and successes fol- 
lowed during some days. The troops from the 
Balla Hissar were recalled to the Cantonment, and 
the Envoy urged a decided attack on the enemy ; 
the General, however, maintained that all such at- 
tacks would be futile : the soldiers began to despond, 
and all was misery. There were, nevertheless, 
skirmishes every day, which did not tend to raise the 
spirits of the sepoys and soldiers, who saw their 
enemy hourly increase, while they themselves had 
scarcely food and but insufficient raiment for the 
season. So greatly were they dispirited that they 
were one day driven back to their camp, after they 
had during three hours been exposed to a galling 
fire. The Ghilzee Chief Osman Khan did not 
choose to pursue them within their entrenchments, 
where they, it was then feared, would have made 



APPENDIX. 199 

a feeble resistance. Their provision was flour, 
which they obtained by bribery during the night. 
It was then recommended that all the troops should 
be concentrated in the Balla Hissar. Captain Conolly, 
who was then with the Shah, advocated the pro- 
priety of so doing, but the military authorities de- 
clared the movement impossible, as they could not 
rely upon the disheartened troops. The last regiment 
was then withdrawn from the Balla Hissar, which 
is, as every one knows, a citadel on a hill to the 
eastward of the town, and Shah Soojah was left 
to his own resources. 

" The insurgents, who were aware of the move- 
ment of succour from Candahar, now appeared dis- 
posed to enter upon negotiations for the withdrawal 
of the British troops. The envoy, on hearing of 
the retreat of the Candahar brigade, and learning 
that no aid could be expected from General Sale, 
then at Jellalabad, or from the Indus, gave a reluc- 
tant assent. Conferences took place, and a long 
list of articles, drawn up in Persian by Sir W. H. 
M'Naghten, was agreed to on both sides. They 
are said to exceed twenty in number. 

" The second and favourite son of Dost Mahomed, 
Mahomed Akhbar Khan, who, subsequent to his 
father's surrender had remained in concealment, and 
had even escaped beyond the confines of Avghanis- 
taun, having made his appearance during the insur- 
rection, took a decided part in the negotiation. The 
insurgent chiefs exhibited great willingness to have 
the British troops removed from Cabul, and ar- 
rangements are said to have been made for that 
purpose at different meetings which were held out- 
side the cantonments. After various parleys, a mes- 
sage was, on the 22d of December, brought from 



200 APPENDIX. 

Akhbar Khan to Sir W. H. M'Naghten, to re- 
quest an interview on the following morning. The 
British envoy went thither, acconripanied by Cap- 
tains Lawrence, Trevor, and Mackenzie. They 
had not been present five minutes, when a signal 
was given and all were seized and l^orced to 
mount behind some Ghilzee chiefs. The British 
envoy resisted, and was slain, as also Captain Tre- 
vor, who had slipped off the horse on which he had 
been placed. Their murderers are now" said to be 
" Ghazees," or religious enthusiasts, who fight as 
soldiers for "the sake of God," and who, if killed in 
battle, are called " Shuhdees," or martyrs. The 
treatment of Sir W. H. M'Naghten's body has 
been described as most barbarous. His lady is 
stated to have offered a large sum for its ransom, 
in order to its being decently interred. The other 
two officers were saved by the dread of the Gha- 
zees to fire at them, lest the Ghilzees, who rode be- 
fore them should be wounded ; they returned to the 
cantonment on the 28th. Akhbar Khan has, it ap- 
pears, boasted of his having in person killed Sir W. 
H. M'Naghten. 

" Major Pottinger, well known since the defence 
of Herat, took charge of the British mission, and the 
negotiations for the withdrawal of the troops were 
continued. On the 6th of January they moved from 
their cantonments, which were instantly seized by 
the insurgents and burnt. The snow was one foot 
deep on the ground, when the troops reached Bee- 
grom, three miles distant. The schemes of Akhbar 
Khan then became evident : he had despatched emis- 
saries throughout the country through which the un- 
fortunate British soldiers had to pass, calling on the 
people to rise en masse and slay the infidels. His 



APPENDIX. SOI 

call was not heard in vain. On the first day's 
march Cornet Hardyman, of the 5th cavalry, and 
some men were killed. Mahomed Akhbar Khan, who 
had taken charge of the retreat, contrived to induce 
the British to take up stations at night where he 
chose. On the 7th they moved to Bareckhar, where 
the three mountain guns were seized. Their rear 
guard were obliged to act on the defensive during 
the whole of the day. On the 8th the camp was 
nearly surrounded by enemies, and it became evi- 
dent that the British troops would have to fight their 
way to Jellalabad. Captain Skinner went to Ma- 
homed Akhbar Khan, who was on a hill close to 
the British camp, and inquired why they could not 
proceed according to the convention. The reply 
was that they had left the Cabul cantonments before 
the troops destined to protect them were ready, and 
that no chief but he (Akhbar Khan) had the means 
or power to protect them, notwithstanding their con- 
vention. 

** This military convention is not fully known, and 
therefore all its provisions cannot be stated. It is 
pretended that among the articles there are som6 
declaring, that all the British troops were to eva- 
cuate Avghanistaun, and that notice of such a con- 
vention had been sent to General Nott at Candahar, 
and to General Sale at Jellalabad. It is said to 
have been signed by General Elphinstone as Com- 
mander in Chief, and by Major Pottinger as acting 
Political Agent, and also by Brigadier Skelton, 
Brigadier Anquetil, and Colonel Chambers. 

" Akhbar Khan, whose violent hatred to the 
British had been sharpened, not only by the con- 
quest of his father's territories, but by his own exile 
and subsequent imprisonment in Bokhara, and by 



202 APPENDIX. 

his wild fanaticism, demanded then, on the third 
day of the retreat from Cabul, that the British 
should, when surrounded by the Ghazees under his 
command, make new terms with him, and promise 
not to proceed farther than Tazeen, until the with- 
drawal of the force under Sir R. Sale from Jellala- 
bad, was known, and he insisted on six hostages. 
Major Pottinger, who was lame from a wound, 
instantly offered to be one, and at Akhbar Khan's 
orders Captains M'Kenzie and Lawrence were in- 
cluded. The Ghazees were, however, not restrained 
in their attacks, and a fearful slaughter followed on 
the movement towards Khoord Cabul. The co- 
lumn was attacked on all sides. The fourteen 
ladies, who were in the centre, seemed objects of 
special desire. Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Boyd had 
each a child carried off. Akhbar Khan, while the 
Ghazees were thus busy, professed his inability to 
restrain them, and on the 9th of January demanded 
that the ladies should be placed under his protec- 
tion. The miserable weather, the snowy wastes, 
the rough mountain tracks, and the month of Janu- 
ary in the coldest regions of Central Asia, com- 
pelled them to yield : the hostages halted for some 
days in that neighbourhood. 

"The demand on General Sale to relinquish his 
post w^as made on the 9th of January, and on that 
day he refused to do so, unless by orders from the 
Supreme Government. This answer was taken back 
to Akhbar Khan. The unfortunate sepoys began 
again to move, and were again assailed ; the sepoys, 
who form such good soldiers under the broiling sun 
of India, being enervated and stupified by the cold, 
scarcely offered any resistance, and hundreds of 
them were soon despatched by the Ghazee cut- 



APPENDIX. 203 

throats, but the Europeans and sonae brave men 
kept together until they reached the pass of Jug- 
dulluk. Here General Elphinstone and Briga- 
dier Skelton became hostages, and were detained 
two miles distant by Akhbar. General Elphinstone 
wrote a note in pencil to Brigadier Anquetil — 
' March to-night ; there is treachery.' The British 
troops marched early in the night ; they came to 
the frightful mountain pass ; it was barricadoed ; 
they forced the way, and reached Jugdulluk, 
which they defended some time, until Brigadier 
Anquetil was killed. All order was then lost, and 
confusion and separation, slaughter and destruction 
ensued. Several officers who were well mounted 
attempted to make good their way into Jellalabad. 
Some of them arrived within three or four miles, 
when they were murdered and plundered, and 
their bodies left on the road. Only one officer, 
Doctor Brydon, of the 5th Bengal Native Infantry, 
though wounded in several places, and exhausted, 
succeeded in reaching the place of safety in Jella- 
labad on the 13th. Of the fate of the other 4,000 
soldiers and 6,000 camp followers nothing certain 
is known ; many have been killed, others are dis- 
persed, and as yet it is difficult to decide. The 
names of thirty-five officers have been published as 
killed from the commencement of the insurrection, 
but fears are entertained that they may amount to 
its quadruple, out of the great number missing. 
Some of the sepoys are said to have been sold as 
slaves to the Oosbeg Tartars. 

" Letters continue to arrive from various quarters 
representing the state of the prisoners and hostages. 
Akhbar Khan is said in a letter received from 
Major Pottinger, dated January 23d, to be at the 



204 APPENDIX. 

fort of Badeeabad, in the Lughman country, where 
he keeps the following prisoners, viz. :— General 
Elphinstone and Skelton, Lieutenant Mac Kenzie, 
Captain and Mrs. Anderson and child, Captain 
Boyd, Lieutenant Eye, Lieutenant Waller, Mrs. 
Trevor, Lady Sale, Lady Macnaghten, Mrs. Sttirt, 
Mr. and Mrs. Ryley, Sergeant and Mrs. Wade, 
Captains Troop, Johnson, and G. P. Lawrence, and 
Major Pottinger. There are besides, the six ofR^ 
cers and the sick who were left at Cabul on the 
departure of the troops. Akhbar Khan, in the 
letters from that fort, which are received unsealed, 
is described as doing every thing " to make them 
comfortable !" 

"An attempt of the insurgents to seize Ghuznee is 
said to be so far successful as that the town is in 
their power, but Colonel Palmer, wdth his regiment 
and six months' provision is stated to be safe in the 
citadel. At Candahar an insurgent force showed 
itself on the 10th of January, when an attempt was 
made to carry off the camels belonging to the 43d 
Bengal Native Infantry. On the 11th, Prince 
Sufter Jung, the youngest and favourite son of 
Shah Sooja, and Mahomed Atta, the Chief, came 
with a large force within about five miles' distance. 
General Nott marched against them on the 12th, 
and in a short time dispersed the whole with a 
trifling loss ; the young Prince proved himself a 
coward, as he is a traitor to his father's friends. 

" General Sale has, however, maintained his posi- 
tion at Jellalabad, which he had fortified with a 
ditch, and planted cannon in different places, with 
a determination to defend his position to the utmost. 
Akhbar Khan has attempted to raise the Oolooses, 
or heads of the neighbouring clans, in order to 



-J 



APPENDIX. 205 

attack Jellalabad, but the gallantry and resolution 
displayed by Sir Robert Sale in October, during his 
march from Cabul to Jellalabad, had given them 
such proofs of his bravery that they have hitherto 
rather hesitated. The troops in Jellalabad are 
stated to be well provided with food and able to 
keep their ground until the beginning of March, par- 
ticularly since they have already discomfited two 
contemplated attacks. 

" The celebrated mountain pass, called the Khyber, 
lies between Jellalabad and Peshawar, and the in- 
habitants, who are in possession, have been long no- 
torious for their plundering propensities. Akhbar 
Khan sent to offer money to induce them to resist 
not only the departure of the troops under General 
Sale, but also the entry of all the troops which may 
be ordered by the Supreme Government to relieve 
the garrison at Jellalabad. The Khyberries are 
stated to be highly incensed at the small sum offered 
for their concurrence in his plans by Akhbar Khan. 
It was not more than 1,500 rupees. They, however, 
have made preparations to resist on their own ac- 
count, and a brigade, under the command of Colonel 
Wild, which was sent from the Sutledge early in 
December, having reached Peshawar, made an at- 
tempt to force the pass. Having left their artillery 
behind in India, and the only guns procurable in that 
direction being unserviceable ones from the Seikhs, 
the attempt made by Colonel Wild was unsuccessful. 
Two regiments penetrated to the fort of Ali Musjid, 
where a British garrison was stationed ; but, as they 
found neither provisions nor ammunition there, they 
were obliged to retreat towards Peshawar, having 
lost an officer and some men. In the meantime the 
Supreme Government has not been idle. General 



206 APPENDIX. 

Pollock has been despatched at the head of a con- 
siderable reinforcement towards Peshawar, which 
he with sufficient guns and abundant ammunition 
reached on the 7th ult., and is now making prepara- 
tions for proceeding through the Khytar pass. 

" The Supreme Government on the 31st of January 
published a proclamation admitting the fact of the 
convention at Cabul, the retreat of the troops, and 
their having suffered extreme disaster in consequence 
of treacherous attacks, and declaring that the most 
active measures had been adopted, and would be 
most steadily pursued, for expediting powerful rein- 
forcements to the Avghan frontier for assisting such 
operations as may be considered necessary for the 
maintenance of the honour and interest of the British 
Government in that quarter. 

" Orders were also published on the 5th of Feb- 
ruary for the purpose of having a lOlh company 
added to every regiment in India, which, with other 
measures adopted, will cause an increase of about 
26,000 men. 

" The latest intelligence from Cabul is, that Shah 
Soojah has succeeded in securing the good-will of 
all the chiefs. Newab Mahomed Zeman Khan has 
been appointed Vizier, and Ameer Oolla Lagharee, 
and one of the leaders in the late insurrection, has 
been named Ameer-ud-Dowla. Akhbar Khan, has 
no power now in Cabul, and was sent to attend the 
" Feringees" in their retreat in order to get rid of 
him. He, however, retains the hostages and priso- 
ners, for whom he is likely to demand a large 
ransom. His father. Dost Mahomed, is strongly 
guarded, in order to prevent his escape from India. 
There is great talk of " our great friend" Shah 
Soojah-ool-Molk being implicated in the late insur- 



APPENDIX. 207 

rection, which appears to have been exclusively di- 
rected against the foreign infidels." 

Extract of a letter frmn a gentleman in Northern India 
to his friends in Philadelphia, 

"January 17th, 1842. 

" In this country the power of the British Company 
was considered absolute. The honour of God was 
a thing unthought of, and if thought of, only remem- 
bered to be despised. The Sabbath day was dis- 
honoured by all classes of men, from the Governor- 
General to the lowest soldier : the people were living 
and dying in ignorance of the true God, and the 
rulers set their faces as brass against all efforts to 
Christianize the nation. They felt themselves strong 
without God — they needed not that he should direct 
them — they had conquered, and were reaping vast 
riches from the people, and they thought they would 
extend their conquests. Mark the result — they 
planned an Avghan war — they marched into the 
country, with scarcely any opposition, when had a 
thousand rifles taken possession of the mountain 
passes, they could not have set their feet in that 
country. The Lord allowed them to go in and set 
themselves down. Depending on their own strength 
they felt themselves secure ; they thought of sending 
home some of the troops, and lo ! when they thought 
they had by their own arms accomplished a great 
victory, they find themselves surrounded by countless 
warlike men, many of whom will take their heart's 
blood rather than surrender their land to Christians; 
and now% they have got into difficulty, how shall they 
get out 1 With thousands of soldiers, they are never- 
theless afraid to put their noses outside their en- 



208 APPENDIX. 

trenched camp; they are short of provisions, and 
owing to the cHmate and nature of the country, they 
cannot for sonne time to come, obtain assistance 
from the provinces. There they are, they went of 
their own accord. How they will get out, or what 
they will do time alone will make manifest. Of one 
fact we are certain — the glory of God, and extension 
of his cause formed no part of the object of the un- 
dertaking. Some Christian officers who were anxious 
to distribute Scriptures and tracts were severely 
threatened with the displeasure of their superiors, if 
they did not cease from their endeavours to Chris- 
tianize the people !" 



Keferences explanatory of the Map of Djillalabad, 
referred to in Appendix L,P' 176. 

A. Cabul gate of Djillalabad. 

B C. Forts held by enemy — C being Azeez Khan's head- 
quarters. 

E E E. Ruined forts held by enemy. 

G 1 and G 2. Portions of Abbott's guns advancing. The 
dotted line with arrows shows retreat of enemy's columns, 
which were nearly all obliged to recross the river. 



THE END. 




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